^.  ^^. 


BV  1030 

.D63  1896  v.l 

Doggett , 

L 

L.  1864-1957. 

History 

of 

the  Young  Men' s 

Christian 

Association  . . 

^^:^^^^A< 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


YOUNG  MEN'S 
CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 


Volume  1. 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION, 

1844-1855. 


BY 


L.  Lf  DOGGETT,  PH.  D., 

state  Secretary  Ohio  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations. 


NEW    YORK; 

The  international  Committee  of  Young  Men's 

Christian  Associations. 

1896. 


Copyright,  /8(f6, 
By  L.  L.  DOGGETT. 


Tlbe  imperial  press : 
The  Clkveland  Printing  and  Puhi.ishing  Company. 


PREFATORY  NOTE. 


This  volume  is  a  thesis  presented  in  the  Department 
of  Sociology  of  the  University  of  Leipsic,  under  the 
direction  of  Prof,  von  Miaskowski.  The  purpose  for 
which  it  was  prepared  explains  its  scope  without  further 
comment. 

The  writer's  interest  in  the  history  of  the  Association 
grew  out  of  the  preparation  of  a  paper  on  the  history  of 
the  American  Movement,  read  before  the  "Ohio  Church 
History  Society,"  in  1892. 

Direct  work  upon  this  history  was  begun  in  August, 
1893.  In  gathering  material,  several  months  were  spent 
at  the  headquarters  of  the  American  Committee  at  New 
York,  in  the  library  of  the  American  International 
Committee  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  at  Exeter  Hall  in 
London.  Visits  have  been  made  to  the  conference  of 
the  German  Associations,  held  at  Eisenach,  in  October, 
1893  ;  the  World's  Convention  of  Associations  of  all 
lands,  at  lyondon,  in  June,  1894;  to  the  headquarters 
of  the  German  National  Committee  at  Elberfeld,  the 
World's  Committee  at  Geneva,  and  the  local  Associa- 
tions at  a  variety  of  places,  especially  Berlin  and 
Paris.  From  the  libraries  at  Springfield,  New  York, 
London  and  Berlin,  I  have  been  kindly  loaned  reports 
and  records,  many  of  which  are  rare,  and  without 
which  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  have  gathered 
the  numerous  historical  data. 

Personal  interviews  have  been  held  with  many  of  the 
actors  in  the  Association's  history ;  especially  am  I  in- 
debted to  the  noble  Christian  man  whom  all  who  know 


4  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

this  movement  love  and  revere :  Sir  George  Williams, 
the  Father  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 
The  friends  who  have  assisted  me  are  so  many,  a  com- 
plete list  cannot  be  given.  I  am  especially  under  obli- 
gation to  W.  Hind  Smith  and  W.  H.  Mills  of  London, 
to  Christian  Phildius  of  Berlin  and  H.  Helbing  of  Elber- 
feld,  to  S.  D.  Gordon,  R.  R.  McBurney  and  Richard  C. 
Morse,  and  Jacob  T.  Bowne  of  the  International  Train- 
ing School. 

This  theme  has  grown  into  a  work  much  beyond  my 
expectation.  I  hope  at  some  future  day,  if  this  volume 
meets  with  a  kindly  reception,  to  add  two  others  on  the 
second  and  third  periods  of  the  Association's  history. 

L.  L.  D. 

February,  1896. 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

PAGE. 

Sec.    I — The  Study  of  Sociology 9 

Sec.    2 — Religion  as  a  Social  Force 10 

Sec.  3 — Influence  of  the  Religion  of  Love  on  Character  ....  11 

Sec.    4 — Religious  Institutions 12 

Sec.    5— Theme  and  Method 14 

Chapter  II. 

BEGINNINGS   OF   THE   BRITISH  ASSOCIATION. 

Sec.    6 — Preparation  in  the  British  Churches 16 

Sec.    7— The  Industrial  Revolution 22 

Sec.    8 — Origin  of  the  London  Association — Sir  George  Williams,  30 

Sec.    9 — From  the  Founding  to  November,  1845 41 

Sec.  10 — Development  of  the  Parent  Association  (1845-1851)  .    .  55 

Sec.  II — Financial  History 72 

Sec.  12 — Extension  of  the  Association  (1845-1851) 75 

Sec.  13— Summary  of  the  Results  from  1844-1851 79 

Chapter  III. 

THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT. 

Sec.  14 — Preparation  in  the  American  Church  (1800-1851)    ...    81 

Sec.  15 — The  Industrial  Situation 97 

Sec.  16 — Founding  of  the  American  Association,  December,  1851, 

to  June,  1854 106 

Sec.  17 — The  Confederation — William  Chauncy  Langdon  .    .    .    .125 


6  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  IV. 

FOUNDING  OF  THE   CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION. 

Sec.  i8 — General  Conditions  on  the  Continent 141 

Sec.  19 — Preparation  in  the  German  Church 143 

Sec.  20 — Social  Conditions  in  Germany 149 

Sec.  21 — Origin  of    the  Jiinglings-Vereine 152 

Sec.  22 — Geneva  and  Paris 162 

Sec.  23 — Summary 164 

Chapter  V. 

THE   FORMATION   OF   THE   WORLD'S  ALLIANCE. 

Sec.  24 — The  Paris  Convention 166 

Sec.  25 — Conclusion 179 

Appendices. 

Chronology  of  the  Association 183 

General  and  Association  Literature 186 


THE 

FOUNDING  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION. 


The  Founding  of  the  Association. 


CHAPTER  I. 
INTRODUCTION. 

Section  i. — The  Study  of  Sociology.^ 

The  thought  of  the  ancient  world  was  absorbed  in  the 
relation  of  man  to  nature  and  the  universe.  The  Greek 
philosophers  sought  for  an  explanation  of  the  physical 
world,  and  the  principles  underlying  existence.  They 
developed  the  study  of  Cosmology. 

The  Middle  Ages,  through  the  introduction  of  Chris- 
tianity, became  absorbed  in  the  study  of  the  relation  of 
man  to  God.  The  teaching  of  Jesus  Christ  that  God  is 
"Our  Father"  and  "  thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God, 
with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all 
thy  mind,"  riveted  the  attention  of  men  and  devel- 
oped the  study  of  Theology ;  men  had  advanced  from  a 
study  of  the  universe  to  the  study  of  God. 

The  Reformation  and  the  Renaissance  shifted  the 
point  of  view :  men  have  not  ceased  to  study  nature  or 
God ;  they  have  perhaps  eclipsed  their  fathers,  but 
more  and  more  the  modern  world  is  devoting  itself  to 
the  study  of  the  relation  of  man  to  man  ;  the  study  of 
society  or  Sociology — man  in  organized  relationships. 

^  Erdman's  History  of  Philosophy  ;  Hough's  English  translation  ; 
MacMillan  &  Co.,  N.  Y.,  3rd  Edition,  1892.  Sec.  259  "  outline  "  h: 
3rd  Vol.  by  Prof.  H.  C.  King:  Richard  Ely's  "Social  Aspects  of 
Christianity."     Chap.  I. 


10  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

The  saying  of  Jesus  Christ,  "Thou  shall  love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself,"  is  being  placed  beside  his  teaching 
of  love  to  God. 

Sec.  2. — Religion  as  a  Social  Force. ^ 

The  two  fundamental  principles  on  which  human  so- 
ciety, not  the  ideal  society,  but  present  society  is 
organized,  are  self-interest  and  altruism.  Spencer, 
Drummond  and  Kidd,  however  much  they  disagree  in 
the  application  of  these  two  principles,  practically  rec- 
ognize them.  "Egoism"  and  "Altruism,"  the  "struggle 
for  life,"  and  "  the  struggle  for  the  life  of  others,"  are 
different  names  for  the  same  thing.  Drummond  makes 
these  two  principles  evolve  side  by  side.  Kidd  makes 
society  the  resultant  of  a  continued  warfare  between 
them.  He  holds  that  reason  dictates  the  pursuit  of 
one's  own  interests,  and  religion  through  the  conscience 
dictates  that  men  should  have  regard  for  the  interests 
of  others.  He  thus  recognizes  religion  as  a  social  force. 
Spencer  tries  to  ignore  it.  Professor  Marshall,  practi- 
cally in  the  same  way  with  Benjamin  Kidd,  places 
religion  in  contrast  with  self-interest  when  he  says, 
*'  The  two  great  forming  agencies  of  the  world's  history 
have  been  the  religious  and  the  economic." 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  treatise  to  discuss  the 
manner  in  which  religion  has  usually  been  treated  as  a 
social  force,  but  to  present  an  example  of  the  way  in 
which  the  Christian  religion  operates  as  a  factor  in  socie- 
ty. Men  are  born  with  both  the  egoistic  and  the  altruis- 
tic instinct.  The  Christian  religion  does  not  create 
either.  It  is  natural  for  parents  to  love  their  children, 
and  friends  their  friends.  It  is  also  natural  for  men  to 
seek  their  own  interests.     Society  may  at  present,  as 

2  "Social  Evolution,"  Benjamin  Kidd,  MacMillan  &  Co.,  N.  Y., 
1894.  "Ascent  of  Man,"  Henry  Drummond;  Hodder,  London,  1894. 
"  Principles  of  Economics,"  Vol.  I.,  p.  i..  Prof.  Marshall. 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

Benjamin  Kidd  holds,  be  the  result  of  a  struggle  between 
these  two  forces,  but  the  Christian  religion  is  gradually 
harmonizing  the  two,  by  a  proper  recognition  of  both. 
It  seeks  to  control  both  forces  and  establish  a  proper 
equilibrium  between  the  two  on  the  principle  laid  down 
by  Jesus  Christ,  "  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thy- 
self," Egoism  is  regard  only  for  self;  altruism  is  re- 
gard only  for  others ;  love  is  a  proper  regard  for  both 
one's  own  interest  and  the  interests  of  others. 

Christianity  is  the  greatest  of  social  forces  because  it 
is  the  religion  of  equal  love  between  man  and  man. 

Sec.  3. — Influence  of  the  Religion  of  Love  on 
Character. 

Benjamin  Kidd  points  out  that  the  superiority  of  one 
race  over  another  consists  not  in  intellect,  but  in  the 
possession  of  the  moral  qualities  of  virtue,  steadfastness, 
integrity  and  self-mastery.  He  shows  successfully  that 
these  qualities,  and  not  intellectual  gifts,  have  deter- 
mined the  survival  and  supremacy  of  nations  and  races. 
Paul  teaches  that  love  (Galatians  5:  22)  is  the  foun- 
dation stone  on  which  these  moral  qualities  rest.  Love 
makes  men  honest  towards  their  fellows ;  love  is  the 
source  of  self-sacrifice  ;  the  mainspring  of  true  virtue ; 
the  inspiration  of  valor ;  the  highest  incentive  to 
achievement,  and  to  what  Paul  and  Spencer'^  alike  place 
as  the  cap-stone  of  virtue,  self-mastery  or  self-control. 

I  do  not  wish  here  to  discuss  the  relation  of  man  to 
God  or  to  the  future  life,  but  to  insist  that  when  a  man 
becomes  a  follower  of  Jesus  Christ  and  endeavors  to 
love  his  fellow  men  as  himself,  he  becomes  a  new  factor 
in  society.  His  relation  to  the  family,  the  State,  the 
economic  world,  and  all  human  life  are  governed  no 
longer  by  the  principles  of  self-interest  or  altruism,  but 

'"Principles  of  Sociology,"  Herbert  Spencer;  Third  Edition, 
Appleton  &  Co.,  N.  Y.,  1891,  Vol.  I.,  Chap.  VI. 


12  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

a  new  principle  has  harmonized  both — equal  love  to 
himself  and  his  fellow  men. 

The  religion  of  love  works  at  the  foundation  of  so- 
ciety because  it  forms  character  in  individuals.  It  is  a 
primal  social  force.  Henri  Amiel  has  recognized  its 
relation  to  society  when  he  says:  "Society  rests  upon 
conscience  ;  not  upon  science  ;  civilization  is  first  and 
foremost  a  moral  thing ;  without  honesty,  without  re- 
spect for  law,  without  the  worship  of  duty,  without  the 
love  of  one's  neighbor,  in  a  word,  without  virtue,  the 
whole  is  menaced  and  falls  into  decay.  The  ultimate 
ground  upon  which  every  civilization  rests  is  the  aver- 
age morality  of  the  masses,  and  a  sufficient  amount  of 
practical  righteousness."  ^ 

The  principle  of  love  which  harmonizes  the  egoistic 
and  altruistic  forces  in  man,  and  thus  builds  character, 
the  foundation  of  society,  has  taken  of  necessity  the 
next  step  and  seeks  to  guide  men's  actions.  The  re- 
ligion of  love  not  only  shapes  the  actions  of  those  who 
have  accepted  it,  but  it  is  constantly  creating  a  public 
sentiment,  a  tradition  of  conduct,  so  to  speak,  which 
guides  the  movements  of  society. 

The  ideal  society  which  fulfills  its  functions  on  the 
principle  of  love  between  man  and  man  may  seem  un- 
attainable, but  it  is  this  power  of  love  which  has  abol- 
ished slavery,  mitigated  war,  and  which  for  centuries 
has  been  diminishing  class  and  hereditary  privileges. 
It  is  the  practical  side  of  the  religion  of  Christ,  and  it 
is  working  today  with  unabated  power.  The  religion 
of  love  is  a  fundamental  social  force,  because  it  ?noulds 
me?i's  character  and  governs  their  conduct. 

Sec.  4. — Religious  Institutions. 
Like  all  great  sociological  forces,  religion  founds  in- 

-  Ainiel's  "Journal,"  Mrs.  Humphrey  Ward's  English  translation, 
London,  1893,  Vol.  11.,  p.  86. 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

stitutions  to  fulfill  its  mission.  The  political,  economic, 
educational  and  social  forces  of  society  have  estab- 
lished powerful  agencies  which  act  with  far-reaching 
consequences.  The  institution  established  by  its  found- 
er to  fulfill  the  mission  of  the  Christian  religion  is  the 
Christian  Church.  In  connection  with  what  is  popularly 
comprehended  under  this  term,  the  religion  of  Jesus 
Christ  has  built  up  a  vast  net-work  of  agencies,  differ- 
ently managed  at  various  periods  of  Christian  history, 
but  adapted  as  completely  as  the  resources  at  hand  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  times  would  permit,  to  fulfill 
the  great  mission  before  it. 

A  multitude  of  organizations,  institutions  and  estab- 
lishments, under  the  centralized  authority  of  the  Pope, 
such  as  cloisters,  schools  of  learning,  monastic  orders 
and  alms  houses,  were  established  by  the  Church  of 
Rome  in  the  middle  ages,  as  a  direct  expression  of  the 
religion  of  love. 

Mr.  Ingram,  in  his  history  of  Economic  Science, 
speaks  thus  :  "  Catholic  Christianity  brought  out  more 
forcibly  and  presented  more  persistently  the  higher 
aims  of  life,  and  so  produced  a  more  elevated  way  of 
viewing  social  relations.  It  purified  domestic  life,  a  re- 
form which  has  the  most  important  economic  results. 
It  taught  the  doctrine  of  fundamental  human  equality ; 
heightened  the  dignity  of  labor,  and  preached  with 
quite  a  new  emphasis  the  obligation  of  love,  compassion 
and  forgiveness,  and  the  claims  of  the  poor.  To  the 
influence  of  Christianity  as  a  moral  doctrine  was  added 
that  of  the  church,  as  an  organization,  charged  with  the 
application  of  that  doctrine  to  men's  daily  transac- 
tions." 

As  the  various  sociological  forces  extend  their  influ- 
ence, the  organizations  of  society  increase  in  intricacy 
and  complexity.  The  progress  of  religion  illustrates 
this  law.     The  organizations  of  the  early  church  were 


14  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

simple,  compared  with  the  ramified  agencies  of  modern 
Protestantism.  The  more  vital  and  vigorous  spiritual 
forces  are,  the  more  completely  they  lay  hold  of  the 
classes  of  society,  and  the  different  departments  of  life. 
The  Christian  religion  is  a  primal  social  force,  be- 
cause it  begets  love  between  man  and  man,  and  thus 
moulds  human  character  and  directs  human  conduct. 
In  order  to  accomplish  this  practical  side  of  its  mission 
it  founds  such  institutions  as  the  changing  circum- 
stances of  the  race  demand. 

Sec.  5. — Theme  and  Method. 

The  object  of  this  thesis  is  to  show  the  operation  of 
this  social  force  in  one  of  the  most  important  spheres  of 
life — young  manhood.  One  of  the  remarkable  institu- 
tions established  by  the  Christian  Church  is  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association.  It  is  desired  to  show,  first, 
the  way  in  which  the  spirit  of  Christian  love  has 
created  this  institution,  and  second,  to  measure  as  truly 
as  possible  its  influence  and  significance.  In  discuss- 
ing its  development,  I  have  tried  to  bear  in  mind  that  it 
is  an  expression  of  a  spiritual  and  religious  force,  and 
have  sought  to  give  a  true  picture  of  the  motives,  as- 
pirations and  forces  which  have  guided  it.  They  are 
distinctively  religious. 

Doctrine,  polity  and  the  relation  to  the  organized 
church  are  discussed  only  so  far  as  these  affect  the 
constitution  of  the  organization  and  the  character  and 
conduct  of  its  members. 

In  order  to  measure  the  influence  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  we  must  understand  first, 
the  nature  of  the  religious  forces  which  produced  it,  and 
second,  the  social  environment  which  has  made  such  a 
movement  necessary.  We  must  study  the  cause  and 
the  occasion. 

Geographically^  the  Association  has  developed  three 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

types  of  life,  each  type  in  the  main  being  determined 
by  the  conditions  which  surround  it.  These  three 
types  of  Association  life  are  the  Anglo-American,  the 
Continental  (European),  and  the  Missionary.  The 
Association  is  an  International  Evangelical  Institution, 
and  reflects  the  condition  of  Protestantism  in  the  differ- 
ent sections  of  the  world.  As  contrasted  with  Roman- 
ism, a  fundamental  characteristic  of  the  Protestant 
Church  is  freedom.  It  rests  on  individual  consent;  it 
aims  at  the  development  of  the  individual,  and  seeks 
to  influence  society  and  the  state  mainly  through  the 
individual.  While  freedom  is  its  general  characteristic, 
the  conditions  of  Protestantism  on  the  continent  of 
Europe  are  so  different  from  those  which  prevail  in 
English-speaking  countries,  and  further,  the  conditions 
in  heathen  lands  are  so  diverse  from  those  in  lands  that 
are  denominated  Christian,  that  it  is  necessary  to  treat 
separately  the  three  types  of  Association  life. 

Chronologically^  Association  history  is  divided  into 
three  periods : 

(i)     Introduction  of  the  Association  idea.     1844-1855. 

(2)  The  development  of  Association  methods.  1855- 
1883. 

(3)  Wide  extension  of  the  movement.     1 883-1 896. 
The  chronological  method  has  been   chosen  as  the 

basis  of  treatment,  combining  with  it  the  topical  and 
the  geographical,  but  the  movements  in  different  coun- 
tries will  be  presented  only  so  far  as  may  be  necessary 
to  get  a  true  perspective.  This  thesis  is  limited  to  the 
first  period  1844  to  1855. 


CHAPTER  II. 

BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION. 

Sec.  6. — Preparation  in  the  British  Churches. 

The  distinguishing  characteristic  of  Protestantism  in 
each  of  the  great  sections  of  the  Protestant  world, 
Continental  Europe,  Great  Britain  and  America,  grows 
out  of  the  relation  of  the  Church  to  the  State.  Conti- 
nental Protestantism  is  marked  by  the  union,  almost 
the  subjection,  of  the  Church  to  the  government.  In 
Germany,  dissenters  number  half  a  million — a  mere 
handful  of  the  population.  In  Great  Britain,  the  people 
are  almost  equally  divided  upon  this  question,  whilst 
America  affords  the  example  of  a  free  church. 

We  consider  first  the  nation  where  conviction  on  this 
question  is  in  one  form  or  another  the  prominent  factor 
in  determining  church  relationship — England,  the  soul 
of  Protestantism,  the  home  of  the  Anglican  Church,  of 
Puritanism  and  of  Wesleyanism. 

The  religious  forces  at  work  in  England  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  century  may  be  traced  directly  to  the 
Reformation,  as  represented  by  the  Established  Church  ; 
to  the  Puritan  or  Dissenting  movement,  as  represented, 
by  the  Independents,  Presbyterians  and  Baptists,  bod- 
ies which  have  been  most  active  in  advocating  the 
separation  of  the  church  from  the  State  ;  and  to  the 
Wesleyan  Revival  of  the  i8th  century,  as  represented 
by  the  Methodists.  Christians  were  generally  desig- 
nated with  reference  to  their  attitude  toward  the  Estab- 
lished Church,  as  either  churchmen  or  non-conformists. 
Churchmen  gradually  became  divided  into  three  parties 


BEGINNINGS  OF  TII/l  BRITISH  ASSOCIA  TION.      17 

— "  High  Clmrcli,"  "  Low  Church  "  or  "  Evangelical," 
and  "  Broad  Church  "  or  "  Liberals." 

The  "Evangelicals  "  were  largely  descendants  of  the 
Puritan  and  Wesleyan  Revivals,  who  remained  within 
the  Established  Church.  The  "  Evangelicals  "  and  the 
"  Non-Conformists,"  while  differing  widely  on  questions 
affecting  the  relation  of  the  Church  to  the  State,  were 
gradually  approaching  a  platform  on  which  they  could 
act  together  with  regard  to  great  matters  of  social  and 
moral  reform.  Romanism  need  not  be  considered  in 
this  discussion,  as  Roman  Catholics  number  but  four 
per  cent,  of  the  population  in  Great  Britain. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  century,  religion  was  at  a 
sadly  low  ebb  all  over  the  Protestant  world.  Religious 
life  in  England  was  feeble.  War,  infidelity,  the  Indus- 
trial Revolution,  and  other  causes  had  rendered  large 
multitudes  indifferent  to  spiritual  things. 

Bishop  Burgess  wrote  of  the  Welsh  See  of  St.  David 
(1803) ;  "The  churches  and  ecclesiastical  buildings  are  in 
a  ruinous  condition.  Many  of  the  clergy  are  incom- 
petently educated  and  disgrace  their  profession  by 
inebriety  and  other  degrading  vices." 

"  Clergymen  often  occupied  several  livings  and  neg- 
lected them  all.  Bishops,  as  a  rule,  were  not  in  position 
to  be  overstrict,  as  some  of  their  own  body  were  the 
most  glaring  offenders."  ^ 

"  At  the  beginning  of  the  century  the  number  of 
churches  built  and  rebuilt  (Church  of  England)  aver- 
aged only  three  in  a  year."  ''  In  1814,  John  Bowdler 
wrote:  "  Not  a  tenth  part  of  the  Church  of  England 
population  in  the  west  and  east  parts  of  the  metropolis, 
and  the  populous  parts  of  Middlesex,  can  be  accommo- 
dated in  our  churches  and  chapels.     Over  950,000  per- 

^  Overton's  "History  of  the  Church  of  England  in  19th  Century, "^ 
page  7. 

^  Cutts'  "  Turning  Points  of  Church  History,"  page  316. 


18  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

sons  in  London  are  left  without  the  possibility  of  paro- 
chial worship.  The  want  of  church  accommodation  is 
more  noticeable  in  other  parts  of  the  kingdom."  In 
1824,  Islington  had  30,000  inhabitants,  and  only  one 
church  and  one  chapel.  Evidence  exists  of  almost 
equal  lethargy  on  the  part  of  the  various  non-conformist 
bodies. 

The  battle  of  Waterloo  closed  a  series  of  struggles 
which  for  years  had  absorbed  the  life  and  energy  of 
England.  With  the  year  1815,  attention  began  to  be 
directed  with  renewed  vigor  to  home  policy  in  politics, 
business  and  religion.  The  whole  Protestant  world 
was  emerging  from  under  the  shadow  of  the  great 
Napoleonic  conflicts. 

The  two  religious  parties  which  did  most  at  this 
period  to  vitally  influence  the  life  of  England  were  the 
"  Evangelicals "  in  the  Established  Church  and  the 
Non-Conformists.  The  "  Evangelicals  "  emphasized 
belief  in  essentials,  piety,  practical  charity  and  Christian 
work.  They  minimized  ceremonies  and  the  doctrine  of 
the  church.  Overton  says  :  "They  were  the  salt  of 
the  earth  in  their  day.  It  may  be  said  generally  that 
during  the  first  quarter  of  the  century  there  was  a 
marked  increase  in  the  strength  of  the  Evangelical 
party  until  it  became  beyond  all  question  the  dominant 
spiritual  power  in  the  Church  of  England."  John  Tul- 
loch  says  :  *'  Evangelicalism  w^s  in  short  the  only  type 
of  aggressive  religion  then  (1820-30)  or  for  some  time 
prevailing,  although  its  aggressiveness  was  more  of  a 
practical  than  an  intellectual  kind."  Such  leaders  as 
Charles  Simeon  of  Cambridge,  William  Wilberforce, 
the  Seventh  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  and  the  brilliant  Han- 
nah More  were  its  chiefs.  "  They  founded  the  Church 
Missionary  Society,  the  great  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  and  the  India  Episcopate.  They  were  espe- 
cially strong  in  the  cities." 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      19 

Through  the  influence  of  these  two  great  parties,  the 
Evangelicals  and  the  Dissenters,  an  immense  activity 
in  Christian  effort  began  in  England.  Slavery  was 
abolished  in  1833,  countless  agencies,  such  as  ragged 
schools,  tract  societies,  city  missions,  mechanics'  insti- 
tutes, Sunday  Schools  and  foreign  mission  societies 
were  either  organized  or  so  enlarged  in  their  activities 
as  to  become  efficient.  From  this  period  dates  the  be- 
ginning of  most  of  the  great  religious  societies,  also  the 
great  religious  periodicals  and  journals,  and  the  intro- 
duction of  cheap  Christian  literature.  In  1818,  Parlia- 
ment voted  one  million  pounds  for  church  erection  ;  in 
1830,  there  was  an  average  of  forty  churches  a  year 
erected  by  the  Church  of  England  alone.  In  1827,  Will- 
iam Wilberforce  expressed  himself  as  "  highly  gratified 
with  the  opening  prospect,"  and  he  says,  "  I,  who  knew 
the  aspect  of  things  forty  years  ago,  can  add,  with  the 
highly  improved  state  of  the  clergy." 

The  Evangelicals  have  always  been  on  the  side  of 
popular  reform,  and  have  devoted  their  energies  to  up- 
lifting all  classes  of  society.  Bishop  Hurst,  writing  in 
1865,  says  of  this  party:  "  It  has  sought  out  the  popu- 
lation of  the  factories  and  mines  of  England  and  ad- 
dressed itself  to  the  relief  of  their  cramped  and  stifled  in- 
mates. It  has  reorganized  ragged  schools  and  endeavored 
to  reach  all  the  suffering  classes  of  the  Kingdom.  At  the 
commencement  of  its  public  career  it  founded  the  Church 
Missionary  Society  (1800)  and  the  Bible  Society,  which 
has  translated  the  Scriptures  into  one  hundred  and  fifty 
languages,  and  distributes  two  million  copies  annually. 
Archbishop  Sumner  founded  the  first  Diocesan  Church 
Building  Society  in  1828.  The  Pastoral  Aid  Society, 
founded  in  1S36,  by  its  lay  and  clergical  employees,  is 
now  (1865)  ministering  to  three  million  souls.  The 
Low  Churchmen  have  established  in  needy  localities, 
Sunday    Schools,    Infant    Schools,    Libraries,    Benefit 


20  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

Societies,  Clothing  Clubs  and  Circles  of  Scripture 
Readers.  They  seek  out  the  abandoned  and  hopeless 
wretches  in  the  darkest  sinks  of  London,  reading  the 
Bible  to  them,  clothing,  finding  work,  and  training 
them  to  self-respect."^  In  the  blaze  of  this  devotion, 
the  "  fox-hunting  parson  "  and  "  the  absentee  rector  '* 
of  the  i8th  century  became  an  impossibility. 

Religion  had,  to  some  extent,  shifted  its  point  of  view 
and  ceased  to  be  so  much  a  matter  of  doctrine  or 
churchmanship,  as  a  matter  of  practical  life  and  help- 
fulness between  man  and  man.  The  new  movement 
did  not  pause  to  demonstrate  its  position  by  syllogisms 
or  formulas,  but  it  made  a  new  ideal  to  shine  before  the 
eyes  of  men,  in  the  light  of  which  minor  differences 
were  forgotten. 

In  an  address  before  the  Evangelical  Alliance,  1855, 
Rev.  T.  R.  Birks  said:  "Pious  Christians  have  had 
their  intellectual  horizons  enlarged,  and  have  fixed 
their  thoughts  more  strongly  on  the  humanizing  and 
social  aspect  of  Christianity."  This  subsidence  of  doc- 
trinal discussion  and  absorption  in  practical  work  is  of 
great  moment  to  our  subject.  Creeds  divide,  service 
unites.  It  indicates  two  aspirations  of  the  early  part  of 
the  century,  which  reveal  the  beating  heart  of  Christian 
love,  and  which  were  an  essential  preparation  for  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

First,  a  growing  interest  in  practical  Christian  work, 
and  second,  the  willingness  of  denominations  and 
parties  to  co-operate  in  service.  A  third  advance  must 
also  be  noticed :  Christians  were  forming  the  habit  of 
organizing  in  order  to  carry  out  common  enterprises. 

In  the  midst  of  this  period,  and  in  spite  of  the  grow- 
ing spirit  of  unity,  a  violent  agitation  against  the  Es- 
tablished Church  broke  out,  which  so  aroused  the 
friends  of  the  church  as  to  produce  what  is  known  as 

'  "Hurst's  History  of  Rationalism,"  page  509. 


BEGINNIXGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.     21 

the  Oxford  or  Anglo-Catholic  Movement,  called  by  its 
friends,  the  Church  Revival.  It  was  really  of  political 
origin.  The  advocates  of  the  Reform  Bill,  passed  in 
1832,  were  pronounced  opponents  of  establishment. 
"  The  Reform  Bill  gave  great  power  to  just  that  class 
which  was  most  hostile  to  the  Established  Church,  and 
most  favorable  to  dissent,  not  the  higher  or  the  lower, 
but  the  middle  classes."  * 

Dr.  Stoughton  says :  "  I  question  whether  in  tlie 
present  day  any  attacks  on  any  institution  are  to  be 
compared  in  bitterness  with  those  in  reference  to  the 
Established  Church  between  1820  and  1830."^  The 
High  Church  Party,  under  the  leadership  of  Newman 
and  Pusey,  in  1833,  sprang  to  the  rescue,  and  inaugu- 
rated a  revival  of  high  churchmanship,  which,  while  it 
resulted  in  a  revolt  to  the  Church  of  Rome  of  some  one 
hundred  clergymen  and  many  laymen,  restored  the 
piety  of  the  Established  Church  and  its  hold  upon  a 
large  section  of  the  English  people.  The  Tractarians, 
as  the  High  Churchmen  were  called,  emphasized  the 
ritual  and  the  sacraments.  They  taught  that  the  epis- 
copacy was  of  divine  appointment,  and  dissent  was 
separation  from  the  body  of  Christ.  The  High  Church 
movement  v/as  not  in  sympathy  with  such  an  enterprise 
as  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  This  should 
be  borne  in  mind,  as  it  is  one  of  the  reasons  why  the 
Association  Movement  in  England  has  not  received 
such  unanimous  encouragement  or  achieved  as  abun- 
dant success  as  in  America. 

The  numerical  strength  of  religious  parties  in  Eng- 
land at  the  time  of  the  founding  of  the  Association  may 
be  seen  from  the  census  of  185 1,  the  year  of  the  great 
exhibition  at  London ;  the  population  was  then  over 
eighteen  millions ;  6,000,000  of  whom  by  youth,  sickness 

*  Overton,  p.  312. 

'  Overton,  "  English  Church  in  XIX  Centur}-,"  p.  311. 


22  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

oi  age,  were  not  in  condition  to  attend  church.  The 
worshipers  in  the  Established  Church  were  estimated  at 
4,100,000;  in  dissenting  bodies,  3,400,000;  non-wor- 
shipers, about  4,100,000.  The  places  of  worship  con- 
nected with  the  Established  Church  were  14,077,  with  a 
seating  capacity  of  4,800,000.  Dissenters  owned  20,390 
places  of  worship,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  3,600,000. 

Mr.  Birks  estimates  the  High  Church,  Evangelical 
and  Broad  Church  parties  in  the  Established  Church  at 
this  time  (1851)  to  be  about  equally  divided,  with  proba- 
bly 6,000  clergymen  each.  Fully  two-thirds  of  the  re- 
ligious strength  of  England  was  in  the  non-conformist 
bodies  and  the  Evangelical  party  of  the  Established 
Church  at  the  middle  of  the  present  century.  They 
represented  the  aspiration,  the  spiritual  life,  the  Chris- 
tian zeal,  the  philanthropy  and  evangelical  fire  of  England. 

The  spiritual  preaching  of  the  dissenters  and  the  zeal 
of  the  Evangelicals  were  the  religious  forces  of  the 
kingdom,  which  were  ready  to  grapple  with  the  new 
difficulties  presented  by  an  unparalleled  revolution  in 
the  industrial  life  of  the  people.  The  High  Church 
party  and  the  Liberals  alike  have  had  a  noble  work  to 
do  in  this  century,  not  always  understood  by  their 
rivals,  but  to  the  Dissenters  and  Evangelicals  belong 
the  organizing  and  manning  of  the  agencies  (of  which 
the  Association  is  one)  that  were  called  into  being  to 
save  industrial  England.  From  them  came  the  money, 
the  men,  the  sympathy  and  the  courage  to  make  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  a  success. 

Sec.  7. — The  Industrial  Revolution. 

While  these  changes  (1800-1850)  which  breathed 
new  life  into  English  Christianity  were  in  progress,  a 
new  social  era  was  dawning.  The  Protestant  world 
was  changing  its  habit  of  life.  The  industrial  age,  with 
scarcely  a  note  of  warning,  was  beginning.      The  pro- 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.     23 

foundest  sociological  fact  of  modern  times  is  that  the 
civilized  world  is  leaving  the  country  to  live  in  the  city. 
The  magnet  of  the  city  is  an  irresistible  force.  The 
race  is  becoming  urban.  We  will  not  repeat  here  the 
oft-told  tale  of  the  rise  of  the  city  except  so  far  as  is 
necessary  to  show  that  it  is  the  modern  fact  which  occa- 
sioned the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

Without  the  rise  of  the  city,  the  parlors,  gymnasiums, 
reading  rooms,  educational  classes,  halls,  Bible  studies, 
religious  meetings, — the  vast  organization  of  half  a  mill- 
ion young  men,  with  its  secretaries,  directors,  com- 
mittees, costly  buildings  and  mighty  influence  would 
never  have  been  born.  The  Association  movement 
was  founded  by  a  young  man  who  moved  from  the 
country  to  the  city.  It  was  founded  primarily  for  young 
men  living  away  from  home  in  cities  ;  without  the  wide 
extent  of  the  city  it  would  have  remained  simply  a 
London  institution,  and  never  have  become  a  world- 
wide organization.  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation is  a  nineteenth  century  enterprise.  It  has  the 
flavor  of  modern  times  ;  it  is  a  city  product.  Its  busi- 
ness methods,  its  enterprise,  its  intensity,  its  weaknesses, 
too,  of  superficiality  and  haste,  all  bear  the  stamp  of  its 
city  origin.  To  understand  Young  Men's  Christian 
Associations,  we  must  understand  the  modern  city. 

Self-protection,  government,  commerce  and  pleasure, 

built  the  cities  of  past  centuries.     The  force  that  draws 

men  into  modern  cities  is  wealth.     The  startling  fact  is 

that  just  as  many  people  live  in  cities  to-day  as  can 

make  a  living  in  them.     This  is  the  law  of  city  growth. 

It  is  as  inflexible  as  the  laws  of  the  Medes  and  Persians. 

It   is   their   only   limitation.     Loomis,  in  his  volume, 

"  Modern  Cities,"  shows  that  the  cost  of  living  alone 

regulates  city  population.^** 

1"  Loomis'  "Modern  Cities,"  page  35.  Shaw's  "Municipal 
Government  in  Great  Britain."     New  York,  1895. 


24  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

The  struggle  with  disease,  poverty  and  famine  shriv- 
elled the  size  of  ancient  cities,  and  only  a  Rome,  where 
bread  was  distributed  by  the  government,  or  a  Babylon, 
where  food  was  raised  within  the  walls,  could  support  a 
million  inhabitants.  The  discovery  of  almost  unlimited 
means  of  increasing  production,  and  the  development 
of  rapid  transportation,  has  produced  the  modern  city. 
Manufacture  describes  it  in  a  single  word.  Commerce 
has  been,  and  is  a  source  of  wealth,  but  manufacture  is 
the  chief.  Machinery  made  manufacture  possible,  man- 
ufacture produced  wealth,  and  wealth  has  produced  the 
modern  city.  With  all  its  commerce,  two-thirds  of  the 
population  of  New  York  are  engaged  in  some  form  of 
manufacturing,  and  probably  an  equal  proportion  of  the 
millions  of  London. 

The  possibility  of  this  great  increase  in  wealth  has 
arisen  through  the  invention  of  machinery.  In  1788, 
Watt  invented  the  steam  engine,  and  the  industrial 
revolution  began.  "  In  the  discovery  of  the  steam 
engine,  the  mother  of  machines,  may  be  found  the 
central  reason  for  the  growth  of  our  nineteenth  century 
cities."^ 

A  variety  of  agencies  contributed  to  the  industrial 
revolution  in  England.  "  In  1776,  Adam  Smith  pub- 
lished his  '  Wealth  of  Nations.'  "  This  overthrew  the 
Mercantile  Theory,  which  held  that  national  pros- 
perity could  only  be  secured  at  the  expense  of  neigh- 
boring States,  and  advocated  industrial  freedom.  "Al- 
ready in  1762,  the  Bridgewater  canal,  the  first  joint  of  a 
net-work  of  inland  water  communication  was  opened. 
In  1767,  Hargreaves  introduced  the  spinning  jenny; 
Arkwright's  spinning  machine  was  exhibited  in  1768  ; 
Crompton's  mule  was  finished  in  1779  ;  Cartwright  hit 
upon  the  idea  of  the  power  loom  in  1784;  the  Stafford- 
shire potteries  date  from  1763." 

^  Loomis'  "  Modern  Cities,"  page  42. 


BEGTNNTNGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.     25 

In  1786,  a  new  commercial  treaty  stimulated  trade  be- 
tween England  and  France.  Between  1800  and  1830,  the 
year  the  first  railroad  was  operated,  a  thousand  inven- 
tions by  the  application  of  steam  increased  the  means 
of  production,  and  began  to  pile  up  the  wealth  of  the 
civilized  world,  until  Mr.  Gladstone  declares  "  that  the 
amount  of  wealth  which  could  be  handed  down  to  pos- 
terity produced  during  the  first  eighteen  hundred  years 
of  the  Christian  era  was  equalled  by  the  production  of 
the  first  fifty  years  of  this  century."^  He  adds,  "that 
an  equal  amount  was  produced  between  the  years  i860 
and  1875.  In  1770,  the  income  of  Great  Britain  was 
i£i  19,500,000  ;  in  1889  (including  Ireland),  it  reached  the 
enormous  sum  of  £1,285,000,000,  and  the  estimated 
wealth   of  the    United    Kingdom   was    £9,400,000,000. 

With  this  increase  in  production  has  come  the  won- 
derful development  aud  cheapening  of  rapid  transit  by 
the  application  of  steam,  and  more  recently,  electricity. 
The  world  has  increased  its  pace.  In  1807,  Robert  Ful- 
ton operated  the  first  steamboat ;  in  1830,  there  were 
cargoes  of  24,000,000  tons  carried  by  water  ;  1889,  the 
water  freights  were  139,000,000  tons.  Since  1829,  the 
miles  of  railroad  have  reached  354,300  in  Christendom, 
while  the  aggregate  investment  in  the  railroad  carrying 
trade  represents  £5,736,000,000.  In  1780,  it  cost  £13  to 
carry  a  ton  of  freight  from  London  to  Leeds.  Flour  is 
now  carried  to  London  from  Chicago  at  the  rate  of  33s. 
per  ton,  and  from  San  Francisco  by  water  for  30s. ^ 

These  mighty  agencies  have  increased  production, 
cheapened  food,  and  have  given  the  opportunity  for 
great  multitudes  to  support  themselves  by  factory  labor 
in  cities. 

Coincident  with  this  increased  opportunity  for  em- 
ployment in  the  city,  there  has  been  a  corresponding 

2  "Our  Country,"  J.  Strong,  page  115. 
■■'  See  Munhall's  Statistics,  1892. 


26  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

decrease  of  demand  for  labor  in  the  country.  The  in- 
vention of  machinery  has  made  it  possible  for  one  work- 
man to  produce  as  much  as  a  score  by  the  old  methods. 
The  number  of  agricultural  laborers  in  England  in  1831 
was  980,000  ;  in  fifty  years  it  has  declined  to  870,000 ; 
while  the  population  has  increased  from  13,990,000  to 
26,100,000.  This  rapid  movement  from  the  country  to 
the  city  began  first  in  Great  Britain,  and  has  had  there 
the  most  pronounced  development.  The  facts  have 
often  been  presented,  but  they  are  startling  to  the  stu- 
dent of  society.  Josiah  Strong,  Samuel  Loomis,  Albert 
Shaw,  and  a  great  variety  of  writers,  have  brought  them 
to  public  notice.  England,  Germany  and  the  United 
States  have  about  seventy-five  cities  of  100,000  popula- 
tion and  upwards,  and  some  300  others  with  between 
25,000  and  100,000  inhabitants.  The  United  States  has 
353  cities  of  10,000  population  and  over.  London  is 
adding  125,000  people  annually  to  its  population  ;  New 
York,  Berlin,  Chicago  and  Glasgow,  the  capitals  of  the 
Protestant  world,  average  each  nearly  50,000  annual 
increase  in  population.  In  1818,  Liverpool  had  only 
94,300  people,  Manchester  only  70,000.  London,  which, 
in  1818,  had  1,129,000,  is  now  the  marvel  of  the  world, 
with  over  5,000,000  human  souls.  Americans  are  fa- 
miliar with  the  summary  given  by  Josiah  Strong,  in 
"  Our  Country,"  of  the  development  of  American  cities. 
In  1790,  one-thirtieth  of  the  population  of  the  United 
States  lived  in  cities  of  8,000  inhabitants  and  over.  In 
1800,  one-twenty-fifth  ;  in  1820,  one-twentieth  ;  in  1830, 
one-sixteenth ;  in  1840,  one-twelfth ;  in  1850,  one- 
eighth  ;  in  i860,  one-sixth  ;  in  1870,  one-fifth  ;  in  1880, 
nearly  one-fourth.  "In  1780,  there  were  but  six  cities 
of  over  6,000  population  ;  in  1880,  there  were  286." 

The  "  Industrial  Revolution "  has  produced  the 
modern  city.  This  sudden  crowding  into  business 
centers  seemed  to  arouse  all  the  evil  passions  of  the 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      '27 

race,  and  has  sorely  tested  the  religious  institutions  of 
the  Protestant  world.  England  found  herself  with  a 
swarming  city  population,  without  adequate  provision 
for  their  bodily,  intellectual,  social  or  spiritual  needs. 
The  greed  of  the  money-getters  outstripped  philanthropy 
and  Christian  zeal.  There  was  probably  as  much  suffer- 
ing in  body,  stunting  of  intellect,  anguish  of  heart  and 
corruption  of  soul  in  the  factory  cities  of  England  dur- 
ing the  first  half  of  this  century  as  in  the  darkest  annals 
of  slavery.  This  is  a  bitter  indictment,  but  the  facts 
are  appalling.  The  greed  of  capitalists  who  wrung 
hours  of  aching  toil  from  infant  children  and  starving 
women,  the  wretched  hovels  in  which  the  laborers  were 
herded  without  regard  to  sex,  the  reign  of  rum  and  the 
rampant  rage  of  vice,  were  like  a  blight  on  city  life. 
"  Persons  of  all  ages  and  both  sexes  were  collected  to- 
gether in  huge  buildings,  under  no  moral  control,  and 
with  no  arrangements  for  the  preservation  of  health, 
comfort  or  decency."  The  epithet,  "  a  factory  girl," 
became  a  badge  of  infamy.  The  "apprentice  system," 
which  put  thousands  of  little  children  into  the  hands  of 
mill  owners,  was  a  merciless  slavery.  Extra  hours, 
night  work,  brutal  treatment,  wretched  food,  and  foul 
sleeping-pens,  wore  out  their  little  lives.  The  cities 
became  sinks  of  moral  iniquity,  and,  in  spite  of  later 
efforts  to  redeem  them,  surpassing  all  previous  move- 
ments of  the  Christian  Church,  they  are  still  often 
spoken  of  as  a  menace  to  civilization,  and  an  evil  sore 
on  the  body  politic. 

The  important  fact  to  this  discussion  is  that  the  city 
is  becoming  the  home  of  the  young  men  of  the  Protest- 
ant world  ;  young  men  form  the  great  majority  of  the 
industrial  army,  which  annually  invades  the  city  from 
the  country.  It  has  already  been  pointed  out  that  the 
country  no  longer  needs  their  labor  in  the  proportion  it 
once  did,  while  the  city  offers  opportunity  for  advance- 


28  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

ment  and  tlie  fascinations  of  pleasure  combined. 
Loomis,  who  has  given,  perhaps,  the  most  successful 
study  of  modern  cities,  says :  "  Great  cities  have  a 
special  fascination  for  young  men.  They  offer  to  the 
successful  high  and  tempting  prizes.  There  is  little  in 
the  position  of  leading  merchant,  lawyer  or  physician  in 
a  country  town  to  spur  the  ambition  of  the  young  ;  but 
those  who  hold  the  like  positions  in  the  cities  are 
princes  and  mighty  men  of  the  times."  "x'lmbitious  fel- 
lows prefer  a  hard  race  with  high  stakes."  "  Who  can 
measure  the  fascination  for  the  masses  of  manhood  of 
the  great  cities'  unequalled  facilities  for  instruction  and 
amusement?"*  Berlin  and  Chicago  have  each  300,000 
young  men ;  New  York,  400,000 ;  London,  a  million. 
These  young  men  are  a  most  important  factor  in  social 
life.  They  fill  the  stores,  offices  and  shops  of  the  city, 
and  man  the  thousand  agencies  which  go  to  make  up 
the  activity  of  the  modern  world.  They  are  students 
in  the  universities  and  workmen  at  the  bench.  From 
their  number  must  come  the  legislators,  teachers, 
preachers,  physicians,  merchants,  manufacturers  and 
workmen  who  are  to  guide  and  mould  the  Protestant 
world. 

The  appalling  indifference  to  religion  among  multi- 
tudes of  young  men  in  English  cities  at  this  period  will 
appear  as  we  discuss  the  founding  of  the  London  Asso- 
ciation. The  interesting  fact  often  overlooked  is  that 
such  a  large  number  of  young  men  of  Christian  char- 
acter and  zeal  for  preaching  Jesus  Christ  should  have 
been  ready  to  take  hold  of  a  movement  like  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association.  The  awakening  of  young 
men  and  young  women  to  active  interest  in  religion 
and  in  the  welfare  of  others  is  one  of  the  achieve- 
ments of  the  modern  church.  The  brutal  manners,  the 
filthy  conversation,  the  lustful  lives,  the  yielding  to  un- 

*  "  Modern  Cities,"  page  33. 


BEGlNNrNGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.     29 

controlled  desire,  and  the  impiety  of  young  men 
"  sowing  their  wild  oats  "  in  English  cities  in  1800  and 
earlier,  cannot  be  conceived  of  to-day.  In  a  prize  essay 
for  £50,  entitled  "  Our  Young  Men,"  by  Francis  Cox, 
published  by  the  "  British  and  Foreign  Young  Men's 
Society,"  in  London,  1838,  we  read:  " The  cruel  sports 
which  were  once  pursued  with  avidity  at  wakes,  fairs 
and  general  holidays,  such  as  single  stick,  brutal  wrest- 
ling, bull  baiting,  and  others  prevalent  among  the  lower 
orders,  have  diminished,  some  of  them  have  almost  dis- 
appeared, and  even  the  gentlemanly  (?)  amiisements  of 
cock  fighting  and  the  ring,  or  the  sanctioned  feats  of 
pugilism,  are  on  the  wane."  The  rise  of  the  city,  with 
its  fierce  temptations,  brought  about  by  the  Industrial 
Revolution,  threw  young  men  into  great  peril ;  multi- 
tudes fell  into  lives  of  sin  and  lawlessness,  but  the 
forces  of  vital  religion  we  have  already  discussed  had 
also  been  at  work,  and  had  awakened  the  consciences 
of  a  small  number  of  young  men  who  were  ready  to 
support  any  organization  inaugurated  to  carry  the 
Gospel  to  their  fellows.  A  study  of  the  short-lived 
earlier  movements  to  benefit  young  men,  which  have 
been  many,  shows  that  whatever  their  weakness  of 
organization  as  constrasted  with  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  they  were  not  the  spontaneous 
rising  of  young  men  to  help  each  other.  The  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  is  not  a  mission  to  young 
men,  much  as  it  has  been  aided  by  philanthropists  and 
the  ministry.  It  is  an  effort  by  young  men  to  help 
themselves,  an  assertion,  on  the  part  of  Christian  young 
men,  of  the  dignity  of  their  position  as  Christians  and 
members  of  society. 

We  have  seen  the  new  problem  created  bythe  indus- 
trial movement  that  has  housed  nearly  40  per  cent,  of 
the  Protestant  world  in  cities.  We  have  pictured  also 
the  awakening  vigor  of  the  religious  forces  of  England. 


30  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

The  peril  of  the  city  called  forth  the  church  in  its 
might.  The  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  arose  like  a  man 
of  war  to  a  battle  with  a  new  foe.  Countless  agencies 
for  purifying  and  redeeming  the  modern  city  have  been 
called  into  being — city  missions  in  every  slum,  street 
preaching,  lay  helpers'  associations,  public  libraries, 
mechanics'  institutes,  various  parish  organizations, 
deaconesses's  orders,  the  Salvation  Army,  Dr.  Barnado's 
Home  for  Boys,  The  Workman's  Pleasant  Sunday 
Afternoon,  temperance  societies.  Young  People's 
Societies,  Sunday  Schools,  and  a  host  of  other  agencies, 
until  the  church  of  the  present  day  in  Great  Britain  has 
become  one  organized  army,  directing  its  most  power- 
ful attacks  on  the  evils  of  the  cities.  It  is  estimated 
that  in  London  £4,000,000  are  spent  annually  for  the 
uplifting,  enlightening  and  blessing  of  its  Christless 
masses. 

With  such  a  Christian  sentiment  to  appeal  to,  with 
the  young  men  of  the  nation  in  peril,  with  a  nucleus  of 
Christian  young  men  ready  to  follow,  it  only  needed  a 
leader  to  rear  an  institution  devoted  to  the  salvation  of 
young  men.  Such  a  leader  arose  in  the  person  of  a 
young  man,  George  Williams,  now  one  of  the  merchant 
princes  of  London,  the  founder  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  the  man  who,  more  than  anyone 
else,  has  lived,  worked,  given  and  prayed  for  the  young 
men  of  his  generation. 

Sec.  8. — Origin  of  the  London  Association, 
sir  george  wiivliams. 

George  Williams  was  born  at  Ash  way  Farmhouse, 
five  miles  from  Dulverton,  in  southern  England,  in  the 
year  182 1.  His  father  was  a  prosperous  yeoman  who 
owned  two  large  estates,  especially  adapted  to  sheep 
culture.    Agriculture  had  been  prosperous,  but  the  era  of 


BECrNN/NGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOC/ A  TION.      31 

the  transfer  of  power  from  the  land-holding  class  to  the 
cities  was  already  dawning.  With  rare  insight  into 
the  signs  of  the  times,  young  George  Williams  was  des- 
tined by  his  parents  for  a  business  career.  He  was  sent 
to  school  at  a  notable  private  academy  called  "  Glyns' 
School,"  where  an  elder  brother  and  George  Hitchcock, 
who  was  so  soon  to  be  identified  with  the  London 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  had  spent  their 
school  days  together.  When  he  was  in  his  fifteenth 
year,  in  1835,  George  Williams  was  apprenticed  for  six 
years  by  his  father  to  learn  the  business  of  a  merchant 
in  the  Holmes  Drapery  Establishment  at  Bridgewater. 
Williams'  father  paid  a  premium  of  thirty  pounds  for 
this  opportunity.  There  were  then  some  sixty  young 
men  and  young  women  employed  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  the  establishment.  The  Williams  family  were 
brought  up  in  the  Church  of  England  and  attended 
service  at  the  parish  church  of  Dulverton,  However, 
when  George  Williams  began  life  among  the  employees 
in  the  Holmes  Drapery  Establishment  at  Bridgewater, 
he  had  received  no  deep  religious  impressions.  He 
was  a  thoughtless,  active,  capable  young  man,  with  a 
hasty  temper  and  a  warm  heart.  Among  the  employees 
were  two  or  three  apprentices  who  were  members  of  the 
Independent  Church  of  Bridgewater.  These  young 
men  exercised  a  great  influence  upon  Williams.  By 
their  example,  consecration  and  loving  faith,  he  was 
persuaded  to  give  his  own  life  to  Jesus  Christ.  He  be- 
gan to  pray  and  to  seek  God.  This  occurred  some  time 
in  1836,  and  marks  the  beginning  of  George  Williams' 
life  of  devotion  and  Christian  service.  In  the  Holmes 
Drapery  House  there  was  a  little  dark  room  where  the 
wrapping  paper  was  kept,  into  which  Williams  used  to 
slip  oflf  alone,  when  he  was  tempted,  and  pour  out  his 
soul  in  prayer  to  God.  He  says :  "  Instead  of  spending 
my  Sunday  afternoons  in  pleasure  as  formerly,  when 


32  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

the  light  came,  I  began  to  go  to  vSunday  School.  I 
entered  a  class  and  afterwards  became  a  teacher," 

The  prejudice  at  this  time  against  the  Dissenters  was 
very  strong,  and  it  was  a  great  effort  for  a  young  man 
like  Williams  to  rise  above  it.  As  a  result  of  his  con- 
version he  was  filled  with  a  desire  to  win  others  to 
Jesus  Christ.  The  "Principals"  of  the  establishment 
attended  the  Independent  Chapel,  but  were  not  Chris- 
tians. The  life  among  the  young  men  was  careless  and 
immoral.  Williams  and  the  two  or  three  Christians 
who  had  been  the  means  of  his  conversion  decided  to 
hold  prayer  meetings  in  their  bedrooms  and  invite  the 
other  young  men.  These  meetings,  which  were  devoted 
to  prayer,  singing  and  short  expositions  of  the  Scripture, 
had  a  wonderful  influence  upon  the  young  men  of  the 
establishment.  In  a  short  time,  27  became  Christians, 
among  them  one  of  the  proprietors.  The  young  women 
also  held  meetings  in  their  lodgings  for  the  women 
clerks.  Williams  did  not  confine  his  efforts  to  his  fel- 
low-clerks, but  with  others,  in  spite  of  criticism  and 
ridicule,  conducted  meetings  in  the  villages  near  Bridge- 
water.  It  was  a  period  when  laymen  were  just  begin- 
ning to  be  active  in  Christian  service.  Mr.  Williams 
says  :  "  There  was  a  freshness  about  it  that  gave  zest  to 
our  efforts.  We  had  no  society  or  organization.  We 
worked  because  we  felt  impelled  to  work."^ 

In  1840,  the  business  at  Bridgewater  changed  hands 
and  Williams'  apprenticeship  terminated.  This  year 
was  spent  in  helping  his  brothers  establish  themselves 
in  business,  after  which,  George  Williams,  now  twenty 
years  of  age,  decided  to  go  to  London.  His  elder 
brother  was  accustomed  to  purchase  goods  of  his  old 
school  friend,  Mr.  George  Hitchcock,  of  the  firm  of 
George  Hitchcock  &  Co.,   72  St.   Paul's  Churchyard, 

*  This  section  is  drawn  from  notes  taken  in  a  personal  interview 
with  Sir  George  Williams,  in  October,  1894. 


BEGINN/XaS  OF  77 IE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      33 

London.  Through  the  influence  of  this  brother,  Will- 
iams was  received,  in  October,  1841,  into  this  establish- 
ment as  a  junior  assistant,  at  35  pounds  for  the  first 
year.  Here,  under  the  shadow  of  St.  Paul's  mighty- 
dome,  where  for  generations  the  restless  stream  of  human 
life  has  ebbed  and  flowed,  from  Ludgate  Hill  to  Cheap- 
side,  young  Williams  began  his  London  career. 

In  1841,  some  eighty  young  men  were  employed  in 
the  difierent  departments  of  the  Hitchcock  establish- 
ment, working  by  day  at  its  counters,  and  lodging  by 
night  in  the  upper  apartments.  London  was  then,  as 
now,  full  of  temptations.  A  writer  in  1837,  said  :  "  As 
soon  as  a  young  man  was  introduced  into  London  he 
found  in  the  immense  majority  of  instances  that  even 
lawful  business  itself  was  conducted  in  an  unlawful 
manner."  "  The  exposure  to  evil  outside  of  business  is 
extreme."  "  Under  the  present  system,  at  every  few 
steps  our  young  mechanics  in  going  to  or  returning  from 
their  labors  are  met  with  new  solicitations  to  their  pas- 
sions, and  are  made  to  drink,  gamble  and  ruin  their 
present  and  eternal  interests."'*  The  first  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  Report  (page  12),  in  1844,  declares, 
"  until  recently  the  young  men  engaged  in  the  pursuits 
of  business  were  totally  neglected.  They  were  treated 
as  though  deprived  of  mind,  as  though  formed  only  to 
labor  and  sleep,  and  to  sleep  and  labor,  so  that  they 
could  only  go  from  their  beds  to  the  counter,  and  from 
the  counter  to  their  beds,  witliout  a  moment  for  men- 
tal or  spiritual  culture,  without  the  disposition  or  even 
the  strength  for  the  performance  of  those  devotional 
exercises  which  are  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  a 
spiritual  life. 

"  But  happily  for  us  a  brighter  day  has  dawned.  The 
20,000  young  men  engaged  in  the  drapery  (dry  goods) 
trade  and  the  30,000  employed  in  the   various   other 

*  Francis  Cox's  "  Prize  Essay,"  page  212. 


.34  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

trades  of  the  Metropolis  are  being  regarded  as  an  im- 
portant portion  of  society."  Rev.  William  Arthur,  M. 
A.,  in  an  address  in  1844,  before  the  newly  organized 
Association,  said  :  "  Our  general  assistants  (salesmen) 
in  our  great  establishments  have  been  looked  upon 
as  a  species  of  physiological  machines  from  whom  a 
certain  amount  of  work  was  required,  and  if  that  was 
done  nothing  more  was  thought  respecting  them. 
Sometimes  the  more  knavish  the  assistant  was,  if 
but  successful,  the  more  he  was  approved.  No  class 
has  been  more  neglected  or  despised."  In  1847,  a 
young  man  writes  of  the  commercial  house  where  he 
was  employed  :  "  During  dinner,  tea  and  supper  time, 
nothing  but  obscene  language  is  going  on,  such  as 
scenes  in  brothels,  night  brav/ls,  etc.,  and  this  in  the 
presence  of  junior  hands  and  apprentices,  I  am  writing 
these  lines  within  the  hearing  of  those  who  are  playing 
cards  for  half-penny  the  game,  swearing  at  the  top  of 
their  voices,  and  calling  each  other  cheats.  The  heads 
of  the  houses  leave  in  the  evening  for  their  homes,  and 
leave  these  to  go  the  broad  way  that  leads  to  destruc- 
tion. They  go  to  the  theatre  and  those  casinos  where 
they  dance  and  mix  with  the  unfortunates."  "  We 
sometimes  see  the  worst  characters  placed  in  the  most 
important  situations."  *'  Scarcely  a  week  passes  but 
some  of  the  houses  find  their  young  men  robbing  them 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  up  their  extravagance."  ^ 
A  young  man  who  had  come  up  from  the  country 
writes  in  1847 :  "  We  only  have  a  bedroom — no  sit- 
ting-room. The  consequence  is  that  on  Sunday  we 
have  nowhere  to  go.  If  we  go  to  church,  what  is  more 
miserable  than  to  turn  out  into  the  streets — no  place  to 
go  except  a  coffee  or  eating  house,  where  nothing  is  to  be 
read  except  the  Sunday  newspapers."  *    Another  writes : 

'  Third  London  Annual  Report. 
'  Third  Annual  Report. 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      35 

"  I  could  not  have  believed  it  had  I  not  witnessed  it 
myself  that  so  much  wickedness  could  abound  in  one 
establishment.  We  have  every  sanction  given  for 
swearing,  betting,  horse  racing,  theatres  and  every 
facility  afforded  for  gratifying  the  worldly  thirst  for 
pleasure.  Our  young  men  instead  of  hallowing  the 
Sabbath  day  spend  it  on  the  water  or  in  the  numerous 
excursions."  The  Fourth  Annual  Report  (page  22), 
says:  "  There  are  few  persons  who  have  not  lived  in 
the  large  hives  of  commerce  with  which  the  metropolis 
abounds  who  can  adequately  judge  of  the  real  life 
of  the  vast  majority  of  those  who  dwell  there.  Could 
the  pen  faithfully  describe  the  annual  shipwreck  of 
good  conscience  and  character  which  takes  place 
among  the  commercial  young  men  of  London,  then 
it  would  be  more  easy  to  perceive  the  value  of  an 
attempt  to  carry  into  their  midst  the  saving  health 
of  the  Gospel." 

Mr.  Shipton,  the  second  employed  secretary  of  the 
London  Association,  in  1855,  writes:  "In  1844,  there 
were  probably  150,000  young  men  in  London."  "  Of 
the  assistants  in  shops  and  warehouses,  by  far  the  larger 
number  lived  in  the  houses  of  business  in  which  they 
were  employed.  They  commenced  their  labor  from  7 
to  9  in  the  morning  and  closed  it  from  9  to  11  in  the 
evening,  while  in  some  seasons  the  toil  of  the  day  did 
not  end  until  after  midnight."  "  The  sleeping  apart- 
ments were  small  and  badly  ventilated.  Several  slept 
in  the  same  room,  and  of  the  juniors,  two  often  occu- 
pied the  same  bed."  "  The  majority  sought  their  en- 
joyment in  the  tavern."  "The  novice  and  the  veteran 
in  sin,  the  '  old  stager '  in  London  and  the  youth  fresh 
from  the  country,  occupied  one  and  the  same  bedroom." 
"Their  conviviality  often  reached  the  point  of  excess, 
and  the  moral  degradation  thus  commenced  ended  in 
too  man\^  cases  in  a  point  of  debasement  ruinous  to  the 


36  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIA  TION. 

individual  and  deeply  pernicious  to  those  around  him."  * 
It  was  into  such  an  atmosphere  as  this,  laden  with 
iniquity,  that  young  George  Williams  came,  a  conse- 
crated young  man,  with  his  heart  burning  with  love 
and  zeal  for  Jesus  Christ.  He  worked  during  the  day 
with  his  eighty  fellow-clerks,  and  at  night  slept  in  a 
small  bed-room  in  one  of  the  upper  floors  of  the  estab- 
lishment. The  loneliness,  temptation  and  irreligion  of 
his  surroundings  led  him  to  pour  out  his  heart  in  prayer 
that  he  might  find  a  fellow-worker  among  the  young 
men.  In  less  than  a  month  the  house  secured  the 
services  of  J.  Christopher  Smith,  a  young  man  of  about 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  who  was  a  devoted  Christian 
and  a  student  of  the  Bible.  Christopher  Smith  became 
George  Williams'  room-mate.  The  intimate  relations, 
the  Christian  fellowship  of  these  two  young  men  will 
never  be  known,  but  the  power  of  their  lives  exerted  an 
influence  which  is  to-day  felt  throughout  the  world. 
Through  their  efforts  several  young  men  in  the  estab- 
lishment became  Christians.  Bedroom  prayer  meet- 
ings similar  to  the  Bridgewater  meetings  were  estab- 
lished and  led  by  Williams,  generally  in  his  own  room, 
and  some  months  later  a  Bible  class  was  begun  which 
was  taught  by  Christopher  Smith.  A  missionary  society 
was  founded  among  the  clerks  in  the  house,  which  be- 
tween the  years  1842  and  1844  raised  fifty  pounds 
among  the  young  men.  Also  a  literary  society  for  mu- 
tual improvement,  at  which  the  young  men  read  essays 
and  gave  addresses  on  such  subjects  as  "Astronomy," 
"  The  History  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,"  and  the  like. 
Young  men  in  the  house  began  to  seek  Jesus  Christ 
and  were  converted. 

Larger  numbers  began  to  attend  the  prayer  meetings 
and  the  Bible  classes.  In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Williams 
and  the  others  decided  to  ask  the  proprietor,  Mr.  George 

^  Report  of  Paris  Couference,  1855,  page  59. 


BEGIXXIXCS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      37 

Hitchcock,  for  a  larger  room  for  the  meetings.  He  was 
an  energetic  and  successful  business  man,  but  had  little 
or  no  interest  in  religion.  The  young  men  approached 
him  with  much  hesitation,  but  presented  the  matter  with 
such  earnestness,  that  it  touched  his  heart.  The  room 
was  granted,  and  Mr.  Hitchcock  himself  was  led  before 
long  to  become  a  Christian.  He  became  a  hearty  sup- 
porter of  the  young  men  in  their  efforts,  which  were  re- 
markably successful,  resulting  before  June,  1844,  in  the 
conversion  of  some  sixteen  young  men  in  the  establish- 
ment. The  conversion  of  George  Hitchcock  is  an 
important  step  in  the  development  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth  and 
large  business  acquaintance.  Without  the  influence  of 
such  a  friend  the  movement  could  hardly  have  made 
such  rapid  advancement.  Early  in  1844,  he  described 
the  work  among  his  young  men  to  Mr.  W.  D.  Owen,  the 
proprietor  of  another  large  dry  goods  establishment. 
Mr.  Owen,  through  his  "  principal  assistant," ^ "  Mr.  James 
Smith  inaugurated  similar  meetings  among  the  young 
men  of  his  business  house,  in  Great  Coram  Street,  which 
were  blessed  with  like  results.  In  two  other  establish- 
ments prayer  meetings  were  carried  on  of  a  similar  char- 
acter. It  was  now  May,  1844.  Four  houses  of  business 
were  holding  prayer  meetings  among  their  young  men. 
The  Metropolitan  Drapers*  Association  was  urging  early 
closing  in  order  to  give  the  young  men  opportunity  for 
improvement.  A  number  of  mechanical  institutes  exist- 
ed in  London  and  several  societies  for  mutual  improve- 
ment had  been  organized  by  young  men.  Towards  the 
close  of  May,  1844,  an  important  incident  occurred  on 
Black  Friars  Bridge,  which  can  best  be  described  in  the 
words  of  one  of  the  two  persons  present — Mr.  Edward 
Beaumont,  an  assistant  in  the  Hitchcock  establishment, 
who  had  become  a  Christian  through  the  influence  of 
^^  Sliipton,Historyof  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  p.  33. 


38  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

George  Williams  and  his  fellow-workers.  In  a  letter  to 
Mr.  George  Williams,  written  many  years  afterwards, 
he  thus  describes  the  way  the  idea  of  an  Associa- 
tion first  found  expression.  "  On  one  Sunday  even- 
ing, in  the  latter  end  of  May,  1844,  you  accompan- 
ied me  to  Surrey  Chapel.  After  walking  a  few 
minutes  in  silence  you  said,  pressing  my  arm  and 
addressing  me  familiarly,  as  you  were  in  the  habit 
of  doing,  '  Teddy,  are  you  prepared  to  make  a  sacrifice 
for  Christ?'  I  replied,  'If  called  upon  to  do  so,  I 
hope  and  trust  I  can.'  You  then  told  me  that  you 
had  been  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  in- 
troducing religious  .services,  such  as  we  enjoyed,  into 
every  large  establishment  in  London,  and  that  you 
thought  that  if  a  few  earnest,  devoted,  and  self-denying 
men  could  be  found  to  unite  themselves  together  for  this 
purpose,  that  with  earnest  prayer  God  would  smile 
upon  their  efforts,  and  much  good  might  be  done.  I 
need  not  say  that  I  heartily  concurred,  and  said  '  I 
would  gladly  assist  in  such  an  effort.'  You  told  me  at 
the  same  time  that  I  was  the  only  person  to  whom  you 
had  mentioned  it.  This  conversation  which  occupied 
the  whole  of  our  time  going  and  returning  from  Surrey 
Chapel  was  again  resumed  the  following  week,  and 
collecting  together  three  or  four,  it  may  be  more,  of  the 
religious  young  men  of  the  establishment,  the  matter 
was  gone  more  fully  into,  and  if  I  mistake  not,  the  con- 
versation took  place  one  evening  after  our  prayer  meet- 
ing and  Bible  class,  when  a  few  of  the  religious  young 
men  remained  behind.  We  then  resolved  to  call  a 
meeting  of  all  the  religious  young  men  of  the  establish- 
ment, to  meet  on  Thursday,  June  6th,  1844,  to  con- 
sider the  importance  and  practicability  of  establishing 
such  an  Association."  ^^ 

On  this  very  day.  May  31st,  that  the  young  men  at 

11  Stevenson's  Historical  Record,  page  16. 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      30 

Hitchcock  &  Co. 's  were  conferring  together,  Mr.  Owen's 
principal  assistant,  Mr.  James  Smith,  who  had  inaugurat- 
ed the  prayer  meeting  in  the  Owen  Establishment,  had 
written  Mr.  Geo.  Williams  :  "  I  have  been  truly  rejoiced 
to  hear  that  the  Lord  is  doing  a  great  work  in  your 
house,  and  I  hope  that  the  leaven  thus  set  will  go  on 
increasing  abundantly.  I  am  engaged  here  in  the  same 
work,  but  stand  almost  alone,  and  from  what  I  have 
heard,  I  am  induced  to  say,  *  Come  over  and  help  us.' 
We  have  a  prayer  meeting  this  evening  at  half-past 
eight.  '  If  you  could  by  any  possibility  be  here  at 
eight,  I  should  be  glad  as. I  want  to  advise  with  you  on 
another  subject  in  reference  to  our  trade,  viz.  :  whether 
anything  can  be  done  in  other  houses.'  "  ^ 

These  two  meetings  were  held  on  May  31st,  1844,  and 
the  historic  meeting  already  referred  to  arranged  by 
George  Williams  for  the  following  week,  June  6th,  1844, 
at  the  establishment  of  George  Hitchcock  &  Company. 
George  Williams  invited  Mr.  James  Smith  to  attend 
this  meeting  for  June  6th. 

On  the  evening  of  June  6th,  1844,  twelve  young  men, 
one  of  whom,  Mr.  James  Smith,  was  from  the  Owen 
Silk  Establishment,  met  in  the  room  granted  by  George 
Hitchcock  to  the  young  men  of  his  house  for  prayer 
meetings,  to  consider  the  advisability  of  forming  a 
"  Society  for  Improving  the  Spiritual  Condition  of  Young 
Men  engaged  in  the  drapery  and  other  trades."  The 
leading  spirit  in  this  meeting  was  George  Williams. 
The  work  at  Bridgewater  and  in  the  Hitchcock  House 
had  convinced  him  that  a  few  determined,  Christian 
young  men,  united  by  a  common  purpose,  could  wield 
a  great  influence  over  other  young  men.  This  meeting 
decided  to  form  a  society  for  the  purpose  of  introducing 
reliofious  meetings  of  a  similar  character  into  houses  of 
business  in  London.     A  committee  was  appointed,  of 

^  Shipton,  Association  History,  page  33. 


40  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

which  Mr.  James  Smith,  of  the  Owen  Silk  Establish- 
ment, the  most  prominent  of  their  number,  was  made 
chairman.  This  committee  was  instructed  to  prepare  a 
Constitution,  Mr.  Christopher  Smith,  at  a  meeting 
held  two  weeks  later,  suggested  the  name,  which  has 
been  universally  adopted,  "  The  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association."  The  constitution  as  finally  set  forth 
reads  as  follows : 

"  I.  That  this  society  be  called  the  'Young  Men's 
Christian  Association.' 

2.  That  the  object  of  this  Association  shall  be  the  im- 
provement of  the  spiritual  condition  of  young  men  en- 
gaged in  the  drapery  and  other  trades,  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  religious  services  among  them. 

3.  That  the  affairs  of  the  Association  be  in  the  hands 
of  a  committee  of  management  comprising  a  President, 
Vice-President,  a  Treasurer,  two  Secretaries  and  twelve 
Committeemen,  with  power  to  add  to  their  number, 
seven  to  form  a  quorum. 

4.  That  the  Committee  meet  once  a  month  (or  often- 
er  if  required),  for  the  dispatch  of  general  business. 

5.  That  two  social  tea  meetings  be  held  in  the  year 
(the  time  of  such  meetings  to  be  left  to  the  discretion 
of  the  Committee),  at  which  a  report  of  the  Society's 
proceedings  shall  be  read. 

6.  That  a  general  meeting  be  held  once  a  fortnight 
(or  oftener  if  required),  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  re- 
ports from  members  of  the  progress  of  the  work  of  God 
in  the  various  establishments,  and  for  such  other  pur- 
poses as  the  Committee  shall  see  fit  to  determine,  and 
that  all  meetings  shall  be  open  for  members  and  those 
friends  whom  they  may  consider  proper  persons  to 
bring,  and  to  those  who  shall  receive  invitations  from 
the  Committee. 

7.  That  the  Chairman  of  all  general  meetings  be 
proposed  by  the  Committee,  and  elected  by  a  majority 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.       41 

of  the  members,  and  that  all  meetings  shall  begin  and 
end  with  prayer. 

8.  That  no  person  shall  be  considered  eligible  to  be- 
come a  member  of  this  Association,  unless  he  be  a  mem- 
ber of  a  Christian  Church,  or  there  be  sufficient  evidence 
of  his  being  a  converted  character." 

Three  rules  follow  relating  to  the  election  of  mem- 
bers by  the  Committee ;  a  membership  fee  of  sixpence, 
and  dues  of  sixpence  per  quarter,  and  the  issuing  of  a 
membership  ticket. 

Sec.  9. — From  the  Founding  to  November,  1845, 
ludgate  hill  coffee  house. 

The  movement  now  contemplated  a  wider  work 
than  the  employees  of  a  single  business  establishment, 
and  it  became  necessary  to  secure  a  meeting  room  in 
some  public  place  for  the  fortnightly  gathering  of  the 
members  from  different  houses.  Mr.  Williams  ar- 
ranged that  these  meetings,  which  were  soon  attended 
by  70  young  men,  should  be  held  at  a  coffee  house  in 
Ludgate  Hill,  for  which  they  paid  half  a  crown  a  week 
rent.  Several  weeks  later,  on  the  25th  of  July,  1844,  a 
circular  letter  was  sent  to  a  large  number  of  Christian 
young  men  in  various  houses  of  business,  as  follows  : 

No.  72  St.  Paul's  Churchyard. 
"Dear  Sir: — Suffer  us  to  bring  before  your  notice  some  im- 
portant considerations  to  which,  for  some  time  past,  our  minds  have 
been  directed,  and  which  intimately  concern  the  eternal  welfare  of 
a  large  class  of  your  fellow  mortals.  We  have  looked  with  deep 
concern  and  anxiety  upon  the  almost  totally  neglected  spiritual 
condition  of  the  young  men  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  business, 
and  feel  desirous  by  the  assistance  of  God  to  make  some  effort  iu 
order  to  improve  it.  *  *  *  We  have  seriously  and  carefully  con- 
sulted as  to  the  best  means  by  which  to  accomplish  so  great  a  work, 
and  have  come  to  the  decision  that  there  is  nothing  so  calculated 
to  discountenance  immorality  and  vice,  and  to  promote  a  spirit  of 
serious  inquiry  among  the  class  in  which  our  lot  is  cast,  as  the  in- 


42  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

troductiou  of  religious  services  among  them.  *  *  *  We  shall  uot 
be  surprised  if  such  a  proposal  as  this  be  reckoned  by  some  as  a 
Utopian  scheme.  *  *  *  We  are  likewise  aware  of  the  numerous 
difficulties  which  in  many  places  will  present  themselves,  and  the 
obloquy  and  contempt  which  such  a  course  of  procedure  will  inev- 
itably bring  down  upon  the  promoters  and  supporters  of  such  an 
attempt  from  the  irreligious  members  of  some  of  our  large  estab- 
lishments. *  *  *  But  shall  persecution  keep  us  back  from  at- 
tempting the  salvation  of  souls?  A  society  is  now  formed,  the  ob- 
ject of  which  is  the  promotion  of  the  spiritual  welfare  of  young 
men  engaged  in  the  drapery  and  other  trades  by  the  introduction 
of  religious  services  among  them.  We  earnestly  entreat  your 
Christian  co-operation  in  this  great  work. 

*  s  «  ■:!:-  Signed  on  behalf  of  the  Committee, 

John  C.  Symons,     )  Cecretaries 
W11.1.IAM  Creese,    J  secretaries. 

This  circular  was  sent  to  every  Christian  young  man 
engaged  in  the  drapery  and  other  trades,  whose  names 
the  Committee  could  secure. 

The  coffee  room  at  Ludgate  Hill  became  too  small, 
and  after  some  diflficulty  a  larger  room  was  secured  at 
Radley's  Hotel,  182  Black  Friars  Road.  Here,  on 
November  8tli,  five  months  after  the  meeting  for  or- 
ganization, a  "  tea  meeting  of  the  members  and  friends 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  "  was  held, 
at  which  Mr.  W.  D.  Owen,  the  prominent  silk  mer- 
chant already  mentioned,  presided  ;  about  two  hundred 
persons,  including  several  clergymen  and  ministers, 
"  sat  down  to  tea." 

The  report  penned  at  that- time  without  a  thought 
that  it  would  be  read  fifty  years  later,  by  young  men 
thousands  of  miles  distant,  is  full  of  the  same  faith, 
courage  and  hope  as  the  circular  just  quoted.  In 
speaking  of  the  fortnightly  meetings,  the  report  says  : 
"  These  meetings  soon  became  numerously  attended, 
and  were  rendered  of  an  interesting  and  profitable 
character  by  the  reports  of  members  from  various 
houses.  The  services  which  the  '  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association '   is  established  to  promote  are  chiefly 


BEGINN/XGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      43 

prayer  meetings,  and  wlierever  it  is  practicable,  Bible 
classes.  The  Committee  recommend  that  religious 
young  men  residing  in  the  different  houses  should  es- 
tablish these  in  their  sleeping  rooms,  and  that  the  un- 
converted among  them  should  be  invited  to  attend." 

In  a  house  where  forty  persons  are  employed  a  mem- 
ber writes  :  "  We  rejoice  to  say  we  have  an  altar  raised 
to  God  within  our  walls.  At  first,  two  of  us  met  once  a 
week  for  the  purpose.  We  met  with  a  good  deal  of 
ridicule  and  opposition,  but  this  did  not  daunt  us.  In- 
stead of  two,  the  number  who  now  attend  is  eleven  ; 
one,  I  am  happy  to  say,  has  '  stepped  into  the  liberty 
of  the  children  of  God,'  and  is  now  a  member  of  Rev. 
J.  Sherman's  Church." 

Another  writes  :  "  We  have  a  prayer  meeting  once  a 
week,  to  which  we  invite  young  men  who  are  not  re- 
ligious ;  several  regularly  attend  and  appear  to  feel  in- 
terested." One  writes  from  another  house :  "  Two 
have  joined  themselves  to  the  people  of  God  ;  several 
others  are  becoming  inquirers."  Another  house  re- 
ports :  "  Three  persons  were  converted  in  our  meeting, 
one  of  whom  has  become  a  local  preacher." 

The  report  of  the  first  five  months  of  work,  in  con- 
cluding, says:  "The  Committee  cannot  but  feel  encour- 
aged by  their  success.  There  are  at  present  connected 
with  the  Association  about  70  enrolled  members  ;  the 
greatest  possible  caution  has  been  exercised  in  their 
selection.  We  would  rather  see  the  names  of  men  will- 
ing to  be  '  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord  '  than  behold  a  long  and  numerous 
list  of  those  without  the  power  of  godliness.  Religious 
services  are  now  established  in  fourteen  houses,  into 
ten  of  which  they  were  introduced  by  the  Association. 
There  are  also  two  districts  in  which  young  men  from 
different  houses  meet  together  for  united  prayer." 

The  first  result  of  the  Association  as  shown  in  the 


44  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

report  given  at  their  first  tea  gathering  was  the  establish- 
ment of  religious  meetings  in  houses  of  business.  This 
was  looked  upon  by  the  young  men  themselves  as  their 
most  important  work.  It  was  a  noble  beginning,  but 
even  more  important  was  the  establishing  of  the  joint 
fortnightly  meetings ;  first  at  the  Ludgate  Hill  coffee 
house  (St.  Martin's),  afterwards  on  account  of  in- 
creased numbers  removed  to  Radley's  Hotel,  and  later, 
as  we  shall  see,  to  Sergeant's  Inn.  This,  with  the  sim- 
ilar meeting  in  another  section  of  the  city  referred  to 
in  the  report,  was  the  real  germ  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association.  Here  the  young  men  met  for 
prayer  and  mutual  encouragement,  here  their  reports 
were  given,  here  their  plans  were  made,  here  they  re- 
ceived inspiration  for  the  trying  work  of  the  week  in 
their  own  establishments.  It  was  a  fellowship  meeting 
of  believers,  who  received  encouragement  from  each 
other,  and  from  prayer.  Here  was  born  the  young 
men's  evangelistic  meeting,  which  has  been  the  rally- 
ing center  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
for  half  a  century. 

In  three  years  the  genius  and  zeal  of  George  Will- 
iams had  rallied  around  him  the  Christian  young  men 
of  fourteen  different  commercial  houses  of  the  metropo- 
lis, into  a  compact,  close  organization,  inspired  with 
one  purpose — the  desire  to  save  the  young  men  of 
London.  We  must  go  one  step  further  at  this  "  tea 
gathering"  on  November  8th,  1844.  Mr.  W.  D.  Owen, 
who  had  shown  such  deep  interest  in  the  movement, 
suggested  that  the  Association  raise  a  fund  and  employ 
a  missionary  to  devote  his  whole  time  to  Christian 
work  among  young  men,  as  the  representative  of  the 
society.  In  accordance  with  this  suggestion,  on  No- 
vember 14th,  1844,  at  a  special  meeting,  the  Committee 
of  management  unanimously  resolved  "  to  employ  a 
missionary  to  act  as  assistant  secretary,   to  attend  all 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      45 

general  meetings  of  the  Association ;  to  assist  in  con- 
ducting services  in  houses  where  they  want  help ;  to 
establish  and  render  as  efficient  as  possible  district  as- 
sociations ;  to  form,  by  communicating  with  Christian 
young  men  in  the  large  towns  and  cities  of  the  king- 
dom, branch  Associations  (it  may  sometimes  be  neces- 
sary that  he  should  visit  these  towns  and  cities) — to 
visit  young  men  in  illness,  and  make  himself  generally 
useful  among  the  class  to  which  his  efforts  will  be  di- 
rected by  pointing  them  '  to  the  Lamb  of  God  which 
taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world.'  " 

Through  the  efforts  of  the  young  men,  and  the  lib- 
erality of  George  Hitchcock,  seventy  of  the  hundred 
and  thirty  pounds  needed  were  secured,  and  an  effort 
made  to  find  a  suitable  man  for  the  position.  After  con- 
sidering twenty-eight  different  applicants,  most  of 
whom  were  ministers  or  clergymen,  Mr.  T.  H.  Tarlton, 
a  layman,  was  selected  to  become  the  first  agent  of  the 
London  "Young  Men's  Christian  Association."  In 
January,  1845,  a  branch  Association  with  50  members 
was  organized  in  the  West  End.  On  February  14th,  a 
public  gospel  meeting  for  young  men  was  held  ;  on 
March  6th,  1845,  nine  months  after  the  meeting  for  or- 
ganization in  the  little  room  of  George  Hitchcock's  es- 
tablishment, the  second  "tea  meeting"  of  members 
and  friends  of  the  Association  was  held  at  Radley's 
Hotel,  Blackfriars  Bridge.  The  work  now  began  to 
attract  the  attention  of  Christian  employers  and  of 
pastors.  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Noel,  a  prominent  minister, 
presided  at  this  gathering:  "  Upwards  of  300  persons 
sat  down  to  tea,  among  whom  were  several  very  influ- 
ential persons  connected  with  the  drapery  trade."  The 
chairman  "  was  supported  by  four  other  ministers,  the 
Rev.  John  Cumming,  Rev.  William  Arthur,  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Martin,  and  Rev.  John  Branch."^    The  report  given 

^ShiptoD,  "History  of  the  Association,"  page  35. 


46  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

at  this  meeting  is  full  of  enthusiasm,  and  breathes  the 
courage  born  of  success.  The  Committee  said  :  *'  The 
number  of  members  nov/  amounts  to  i6o.  Our  usual 
fortnightly  meetings  are  largely  attended  and  are  ren- 
dered increasingly  interesting  and  profitable.  It  is  the 
design  of  the  Committee  to  extend  the  benefits  of  the 
Association  to  all  parts  of  the  metropolis,  by  means  of 
various  branches.  Nor  would  they  confine  themselves 
to  the  metropolis,  but  through  the  medium  of  their  mis- 
sionary extend  themselves  and  form  similar  Associations 
in  all  the  large  towns  and  cities  of  the  kingdom.  They 
believe  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  in  every  house  of 
business  an  altar  shall  be  raised  to  the  God  of  Heaven." 

The  activity  of  the  Association  increased  rapidly 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Tarlton.  It  soon  became 
clear  that  if  they  were  to  undertake  seriously  the  prob- 
lem of  winning  the  young  men  of  London,  the  work 
must  be  conducted  on  a  more  extended  scale,  and 
adapted  to  the  needs  of  all  young  men.  It  was  felt  that 
the  establishment  of  prayer  meetings  and  Bible  classes 
in  houses  of  business  was  not  sufficient  for  so  extended 
an  undertaking.  Through  the  liberality  of  George 
Hitchcock,  attractive  headquarters  for  the  Association 
were  now  secured  at  Sergeant's  Inn,  No.  14  Fleet  Street. 
Mr.  Hitchcock  furnished  the  apartments  and  paid  the 
rent.  Here  an  office  was  provided  for  Mr.  Tarlton,  a 
room  for  the  fortnightly  meeting,  and  later,  one  for  Mr. 
Williams'  Bible  class.  This  Bible  class,  taught  by 
George  Williams,  was  attended  by  young  men  about  50 
in  number,  who  had  recently  become  Christians,  or  who 
were  desirous  of  learning  about  Jesus  Christ. 

The  young  men  of  the  Association  also  felt  that  they 
could  not  carry  on  such  a  great  enterprise  requiring 
money  and  wisdom,  without  the  support  of  men  older 
than  themselves,  and  men  prominent  in  the  metropolis. 
Mr.  R.  C.  L.  Bevan,  a  leading  banker  of  London,  was  ac- 


BEGIiyNINGS  OF  THE  BRiriSH  ASSOCIA  TION.     47 

cordingly  asked  to  assume  the  duties  of  President  of  the 
Association.  "  Mr.  Bevan  did  not  attend  our  meeting, 
but  represented  us  outside,"  Mr.  Williams  once  said 
in  conversation,  many  years  later.  "  Twenty-two  pastors 
of  both  the  Church  of  England  and  of  dissenting  de- 
nominations accepted  positions  as  Vice-Presidents,  and 
Mr.  George  Hitchcock,  who  had  already  done  so  much 
for  the  Association,  became  its  Treasurer,"  a  position  he 
filled  until  1864. 

The  Association  now  decided  upon  a  most  important 
step.  Until  March,  1845,  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  had  been  a  purely  religious  organization. 
Its  aim  was  clearly  defined  :  the  winning  of  young  men 
to  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  building  in  them  of  Christian 
character.  The  important  fact  to  be  noticed  is  that  in 
the  pursuance  of  this  aim  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  has  been  led  step  by  step  to  minister  to  the 
mental,  then  the  social,  and  lastly  to  the  physical  needs 
of  young  men,  as  well  as  to  their  spiritual  natures. 
This  is  an  important,  religious  and  sociological  fact. 
In  serving  Jesus  Christ,  Christians  are  led  to  serve 
their  fellowmen  in  any  capacity  which  the  needs  of  the 
times  suggest.  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion on  the  one  hand  has  been  led  to  contemplate  the 
nature  of  young  men  as  a  whole,  and  to  aim  at  their 
symmetrical  development,  and  on  the  other  hand  to 
contemplate  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  as  adapted  to 
redeem  the  whole  man — body,  soul,  and  spirit.  There 
has  been  much  difference  of  opinion  among  Association 
leaders  as  to  whether  the  aim  to  provide  social,  intel- 
lectual and  physical  advantages  for  young  men  is  le- 
gitimate for  an  institution  which  professes  simply  to 
^'  extend  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  among  young  men." 
Two  positions  have  been  taken  :  The  first  and  earliest 
historically  is  that  the  establishment  of  an  institution, 
under  the  management  of  Christian  young  men,  to  pro- 


4S  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

vide  the  various  agencies  which  young  men  need  for 
symmetrical  development,  brings  young  men  who  are 
not  Christians  into  friendly  relations  with  young  men 
who  are  Christians,  and  enables  these  Christian  young 
men  to  win  the  others  to  Jesus  Christ.  This  is  a  great 
fact,  of  which  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
is  a  fifty  years'  demonstration.  It  rests  upon  a  socio- 
logical truth — the  power  of  environment.  It  is  the 
recognition  of  this  truth,  and  the  embodiment  of  it  in 
organized  form,  which  has  shaped  the  policy  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  The  Association 
has  demonstrated  that  practical  agencies  in  the  hands 
of  Christian  men  may  be  a  means  of  drawing  men  who 
are  not  Christians  into  fellowship  with  men  who  are, 
and  so  lead  them  to  become  followers  of  Jesus  Christ. 

The  second  position  which  has  been  taken  by  many 
Association  leaders  is  that  providing  physical,  social 
and  intellectual  opportunities  for  young  men  is  a  good 
in  itself.  That  the  Christian  religion  demands  the 
symmetrical  development  of  the  whole  man  in  all  his 
powers — body,  soul  and  spirit,  and  that  Christians  in 
serving  Jesus  Christ,  must,  to  the  full  extent  of  their 
ability,  help  their  fellow  men,  not  only  in  spiritual,  but 
in  temporal  matters  as  well,  if  they  have  need ;  that 
"  extending  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  among  young  men" 
necessitates  the  symmetrical  development  of  all  the 
powers  of  young  manhood.  Both  are  right.  Practical 
agencies  under  Christian  management  do  lead  men  to 
become  Christians ;  serving  Jesus  Christ  does  lead 
Christians  to  provide  for  the  needs  of  the  whole  man. 
Upon  these  two  truths — the'  power  of  environment  to 
mould  character,  and  the  adaptation  of  the  religion  of 
Jesus  Christ  to  redeem  manhood — body,  soul  and  spirit, 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  rests  its  claim 
for  a  place  among  the  agencies  of  the  Church. 

The  Committee  in  charge  of  the  new  London  Associ- 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.     49 

ation  were  actuated  by  both  motives,  though  especially 
by  the  first.  Between  the  "  tea  evening"  at  Radley's 
Hotel  in  March,  and  the  first  anniversary  of  the  Asso- 
ciation held  at  the  same  place  a  few  months  later  in 
November,  the  new  plans  were  formulated.  A  new 
clause  appears  in  the  constitution  which  reads  :  "  The 
object  of  this  Association  shall  be  the  improvement  of 
the  spiritual  and  mental  condition  of  young  men  en- 
gaged in  houses  of  business,  by  the  introduction  of 
family  or  social  prayer,  Bible  classes.  Mutual  Improve- 
ment Societies,  or  any  other  plan  strictly  in  accordance 
with  the  Scriptures.''  ^ 

The  first  annual  report  states  that  the  article  describ- 
ing the  admission  of  members  is  altered  so  as  to  provide 
only  that  applicants  give  credible  evidence  of  conver- 
sion. The  report  also  states,  "  Since  the  last  meeting  (the 
March  previous),  your  Committee  have  added  to  their 
plan  the  formation  of  Mutual  Improvement  Societies,  as 
in  many  large  houses  containing  upwards  of  eighty  to 
one  hundred  young  men,  no  Christian  young  man  is 
found,  or  if  there  be  one,  his  position  is  so  isolated  that 
he  is  prevented  from  carrying  out  the  other  part  of  our 
plan.  Now  many  unconverted  young  men  would  assist 
and  feel  interested  in  a  Mutual  Improvement  Society,  so 
would  principals  of  houses,  and  we  should  deem  it  no 
unimportant  result  if  in  any  instance  we  can  lead  to 
the  library  of  useful  knowledge,  rather  than  to  cards 
and  billiards,  to  the  cigar  divan,  concert  room,  theatre 
or  the  seductive  retreat."  As  a  part  of  this  enlarged 
programme,  a  course  of  popular  lectures  to  young  men 
was  announced  to  be  delivered  by  leading  ministers 
and  laymen  of  London,  to  begin  on  December  9th, 
1845.  This  lecture  course,  known  as  the  Exeter  Hall 
Series,  became  a  remarkable  agency  in  stimulating  the 
intellectual  life  of  young  men.     As  a  pioneer   in  the 

'  First  Annual  Report,  Nov.  6th,  1845. 


50  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

lecture  field,  the  influence  of  this  movement  cannot  be 
measured.  It  has  reached  all  over  the  Anglo-Saxon 
world. 

Two  public  tea  gatherings  of  the  friends  of  its  work 
had  been  held  during  the  year  by  the  Association,  at 
which  reports  were  read  of  the  society's  progress.  The 
first  anniversary  was  announced  for  November  6th, 
1845.  Three  hundred  and  thirty-five  persons,  among 
them  many  noted  clergymen,  sat  down  to  tea  at  this 
first  anniversary  meeting  at  Radley's  Hotel.*  It  was 
one  year  and  five  months  since  twelve  young  men,  un- 
known, without  influence,  without  money,  without 
friends,  had  met  in  the  humble  bedroom  of  George 
Williams  to  pray  for  the  young  men  of  London.  The 
result  was  already  a  marvelous  testimony  to  their  zeal, 
their  wisdom,  and  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Born  in  the  revival  among  George  Hitchcock's  young 
men,  an  Association  had  been  inaugurated  numbering 
200  young  laymen  of  all  denominations  in  18  different 
commercial  establishments  of  London  ;  managed  by  a 
Committee  elected  by  a  majority  of  the  members  ;  with 
a  leading  banker  as  President ;  a  prominent  merchant 
as  Treasurer  ;  22  prominent  ministers  of  every  denomi- 
nation as  Vice-Presidents ;  with  such  prominent  citi- 
zens as  Samuel  Morley  (who  afterwards  gave  5,cxdo 
pounds  toward  the  purchase  of  a  home  for  the  Associa- 
tion) willing  to  give  an  address  at  the  annual  meeting  ; 
with  rooms  nicely  furnished  as  headquarters,  where 
Bible  classes  and  prayer  meetings  were  conducted  ;  a 
paid  agent  devoting  his  entire  time  to  the  interests  of 
the  Association,  the  whole  movement  animated  with 
the  purpose  to  improve  young  men  spiritually  and  in- 
tellectually by  any  means  strictly  in  accordance  with 
the  Word  of  God.  Here  was  the  beginning  of  the 
fundamental  idea  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 

*  First  Auiuial  Report. 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      51 

ciation, — that  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  through  His 
Church  is  intended  to  save,  redeem  and  develop  the 
whole  man,  body,  soul  and  spirit — an  idea  which  has 
become  dominant  in  the  modern  church,  and  which 
was  to  find  its  first  organized  expression  in  this  Associ- 
ation. 

This  was  not  recognized  fully  at  the  time.  The 
only  effort  was  to  adapt  the  work  to  the  needs  of 
young  men.  Years  afterwards,  when  physical  education 
had  been  added  to  mental,  spiritual,  and  social  im- 
provement. Dr.  Luther  Gulick  gave  utterance  to  the 
ideal  toward  which  the  Association  is  striving  (Phila- 
delphia Convention,  1889).  He  said  :  "  From  a  scien- 
tific standpoint,  the  Associations  have  a  very  valua- 
ble foundation  for  their  work  in  the  fact  that  they  are 
working  for  young  men,  not  simply  for  their  bodies, 
minds  and  souls,  but  for  the  salvation,  development 
and  training  of  the  whole  man  complete,  as  God  made 
him."  Here  was  a  new  force — an  inter-denominational 
association  of  3'oung  laymen,  animated  with  a  burning 
love  for  Christ,  standing  as  pioneers  behind  three  great 
ideas  which  have  become  characteristic  of  English  and 
American  Christianity : 

The  union  of  denominations  for  service  regardless  of 
creeds. 

The  salvation  of  the  whole  man,  which  has  broad- 
ened out  into  the  Institutional  Church  and  the  present 
practical  interest  in  sociology. 

The  recognition  of  young  people  as  a  factor  in  Chris- 
tian work,  which  has  developed  into  the  marvelous 
young  people's  organizations  of  the  United  States. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  with  all  the 
credit  given  to  it,  has  never  been  fully  recognized  by  the 
Christian  public  as  the  first  organization  to  give  ex- 
pression to  these  three  modern  movements  on  a  large 
scale.     It  has  been  the  pioneer  in  them  all.     In  the 


5-2  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

face  of  criticism  and  inexperience  it  has  resolutely  en- 
tered new  and  untried  paths,  and  has  demonstrated  the 
value  of  its  methods  and  the  truth  of  its  principles. 

The  Association  was  inaugurated  in  a  revival  on  a 
purely  religious  basis,  upon  a  strictly  evangelical  plat- 
form. It  has  held  tenaciously  to  its  evangelistic  and 
evangelical  origin.  While  clinging  to  its  faith,  it  has 
risen  to  the  practical  position  of  James,  that  "  faith 
without  works  is  dead."  The  Association  has  become 
a  social  factor,  because  it  is  a  religious  force. 

PERSONAL     INTERVIEWS    WITH    NORTON    SMITH    AND 

WILLIAM    CREESE,   TWO   OF   THE   FOUNDERS 

OF   THE    LONDON   ASSOCIATION. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  see  something  of  the  early 
working  of  the  Association,  both  before  and  after  it 
emerged  from  its  birthplace  in  the  Hitchcock  estab- 
lishment in  St.  Paul's  Churchyard. 

In  May,  1894,  I  called  upon  Mr.  Norton  Smith,  for 
years  a  prominent  business  man  in  London,  who  was 
in  Mr.  Hitchcock's  employ  between  October,  1841,  and 
June,  1844.  He  was  a  brother  of  Christopher  W. 
Smith,  Mr.  Williams'  fellow-worker.  During  our  con- 
versation, he  said :  "  Christopher,  my  brother,  came  to 
London  from  Norwich,  in  October,  1841,  fifty-three 
years  ago.  He  was  then  twenty-four  years  of  age,  four 
years  older  than  Williams,  and  had  been  a  Christian 
about  four  years.  My  brother  remained  with  the  firm 
for  fifty  years,  until  almost  the  close  of  his  life.  He 
and  George  Williams  slept  together  in  the  same  bed. 
I  was  one  of  the  four  who  occupied  the  same  bedroom. 
My  brother  was  a  great  Bible  student,  and  would  often 
get  up  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  study.  He 
learned  Greek,  and  employed  a  Jew  to  teach  him 
Hebrew.     He  was  alwavs  scholarlv  and  studious  in  his 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.     53 

habits,  and  very  thorough  and  painstaking.  He  started 
a  Bible  class,  which  was  held  in  our  room,  and  which 
was  attended  by  15  to  20  of  the  young  men.  Prayer 
meetings  were  held  in  different  bedrooms,  but  I  remem- 
ber one  more  especially  held  every  week  in  our  bed- 
room, which  was  led  by  George  Williams.  He  was  a 
verv  earnest,  devoted  Christian,  an  impetuous,  ardent 
spirit,  and  a  man  of  great  courage.  We  had  also  a 
Mutual  Improvement  Society  for  lectures  by  members. 
I  remember  I  gave  one  on  '  St.  Paul's  Cathedral.'  We 
had  declamations  and  elocution  exercises  and  wrote 
several  stories.  George  Williams  went  around  ever}^ 
Saturday  to  receive  the  two-pence,  or  whatever  the 
young  men  would  give  for  foreign  missions.  The  an- 
niversary of  this  Society  became  later  quite  an  import- 
ant meeting,  which  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hitchcock  at- 
tended.    The  Society  has  existed  for  fifty  years. 

"  My  brother  drew  up  the  first  circular,  and  suggested 
the  name  of  the  Association.  After  the  organization, 
weekly  meetings  were  held  in  the  Coffee  House  on 
Ludgate  Hill,  and  then  at  Radley's  Hotel,  where  some 
of  the  annual  meetings  were  held.  Mr.  R.  C.  L.  Bevan, 
who  became  President  of  the  Association,  was  a  banker 
of  large  means,  and  later  gave  5,000  pounds  toward  the 
purchase  of  Exeter  Hall  for  the  Association.  He  was 
a  prominent  Christian  worker.  Mr.  T.  H.  Tarlton,  the 
first  missionary  (secretary),  who  afterwards  became  a 
clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  was  an  earnest, 
beautiful  spirit,  a  good  speaker,  seraphic  in  address. 
When  the  '  early  closing  movement '  began,  Mr. 
Hitchcock  made  a  noble  start.  He  was  among  the 
very  first  to  encourage  '  early  closing,'  without  regard 
to  what  others  did.  I  left  his  employ  shortly  after  the 
Association  was  established,  but  have  always  remained 
a  member  of  the  Association,  though,  since  I  moved  to 
the  suburbs,  I  have  not  been  able  to  be  active." 


54  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

In  June,  at  the  Jubilee  Convention  (1894),  the  writer 
had  a  conversation  with  Mr.  William  Creese,  one  of  the 
first  secretaries  of  the  Association.  He  said:  "George 
Williams  and  Christopher  Smith  entered  Mr.  Hitchcock's 
establishment  in  1841.  They  had  started  a  Bible  class 
and  a  prayer  meeting  before  I  came.  Through  their 
influence,  Mr.  Hitchcock  had  already  become  a  Chris- 
tian. I  was  employed  by  the  firm  in  1843.  Mr. 
Hitchcock  engaged  me  without  seeing  me,  through- 
the  recommendation  of  Mr.  Edward  Beaumont,  who 
showed  him  one  of  my  letters.  I  received  thirty 
pounds  a  year.  When  I  came,  Mr.  Hitchcock  took 
me  into  his  office,  and  said :  'You  please  God,  and  you 
will  please  me.'  There  were  about  one  hundred  of  us, 
fifteen  or  sixteen  were  members  of  the  church.  I  was 
of  the  Church  of  England.  George  Williams  was  an 
Independent.  At  the  meeting  for  organization,  there 
were  three  Methodists,  three  Independents,  three  Pres- 
byterians, and  three  Church  of  England.  We  thought 
we  were  not  doing  enough  for  the  young  men  of  our 
house.  We  had  been  reading  Finney's  *  Revival  Lec- 
tures, and  his  'Autobiography,'  and  they  had  a  great 
influence  over  lis.  We  held  a  series  of  revival  meet- 
ings, in  which  quite  a  number  were  reached ;  one,  the 
president  of  a  '  Free  and  Easy  Club,'  at  a  public  house. 
We  divided  the  eighty  or  ninety  in  the  house  who 
were  not  Christians  equally  among  us,  five  or  six  for 
each  of  us.  It  was  done  with  great  care.  We  took  no 
pledge,  but  each  one  worked  and  prayed  for  the  ones 
assigned  to  him,  and  invited  them  to  attend  church. 
This  work  was  wonderfully  blessed.  One  morning, 
Williams  came  down  to  his  work  and  said  to  me,  with 
great  earnestness,  '  Rogers  will  be  converted ;  you 
speak  to  him.'  Rogers  was  the  president  of  the  '  Free 
and  Easy,'  at  the  *  Goose  and  Gridiron.'  I  thought, 
'can  any  good    thing  come  out  of  Nazareth?'    but  I 


BEGINNINGS  OF  71  IE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      55 

watched  him  as  he  worked.  He  looked  different  from 
usual,  and  avoided  people.  I  felt  sure  he  was  *  under 
conviction.'  At  my  first  opportunity  I  had  a  talk  with 
him,  and  as  a  result  he  yielded,  and  became  a  true 
Christian.  Williams  said  to  me  later,  '  I  had  been 
praying  for  him  that  morning,  and  it  seemed  as  if  an 
answer  came  direct  from  God,  which  said,  '  Yes.'  We 
worked  and  prayed,  especially  for  the  men  assigned  to 
us.  Williams  was  a  '  son  of  thunder.'  We  gave  him 
the  hardest  of  the  lot ;  he  was  a  tremendous  personal 
worker.     I  never  knew  his  equal." 

Sec.  io. — Development  of  the  Parent  Associa- 
tion FROM  November,  1845-1851. 

The  Association  leaders  were  without  experience, 
facing  a-  new  problem,  the  winning  of  the  young  men 
of  London.  They  already  recognized  that  these  young 
men  had  both  spiritual  and  intellectual  needs.  From 
this  time  forth  the  work  has  always  included  these  two 
features.  The  Constitution  had  thrown  down  the  broad 
declaration  that  this  purpose  should  be  achieved  by  any 
means  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  Word  of  God. 
New  members  began  to  crowd  into  the  organization, 
and  the  room  occupied  in  Sergeant's  Inn  was  not  large 
enough  to  contain  them.  A  new  thought  was  pressing 
upon  the  minds  of  the  Committee  of  Management — they 
saw  the  great  numbers  of  young  men  in  London  who 
were  desirous  of  improvement,  but  who  were  not  Chris- 
tians. They  had  already  seen  how  these  young  men 
could  be  influenced  by  "  Mutual  Improvement  Societies," 
organized  in  different  houses  of  business,  and  step  by 
step  led  into  the  prayer  meeting  and  Bible  class,  and 
many  of  them  influenced  to  become  Christians.  They 
decided,  therefore,  to  open  rooms  and  invite  this  class  of 
young  men  "  to  a  well-selected  library,  to  classes  for 
mental  culture  under  Christian  teachers,  and  to  rooms 


56  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

adapted  to  their  use,  where,  withdrawn  from  the  tempta- 
tion of  ungodly  society,  they  might  spend  their  even- 
ings in  suitable  companionship,  or  in  the  pursuit  of 
useful  information."  ~' 

Accordingly,  in  1848,  after  an  earnest  effort,  larger 
and  more  attractive  rooms  were  secured  on  Gresham 
Street,  a  library,  which  soon  numbered  a  thousand  vol- 
umes was  opened  for  use,  also  a  reading  room  with  cur- 
rent papers  and  reviews,  and  educational  classes  in  prac- 
tical branches.  Opportunity  was  also  given  for  com- 
panionship and  social  intercourse.  The  rooms  were 
not  thrown  open  as  a  public  resort  as  yet,  but  this  was 
the  first  recognition  of  the  craving  of  young  men  for , 
companionship  with  each  other,  to  satisfy  which  rap- 
idly became  the  third  great  aim  of  the  Association. 

Young  men  who  were  not  professed  Christians,  for  a 
small  fee  were  given  a  ticket  entitling  them  to  the  vari- 
ous privileges  of  the  Association,  except  taking  part  in 
the  management.  They  were  called  '''■  associates T  In 
taking  this  step,  the  Committee  took  great  care  to  have 
it  distinctly  understood  that  they  were  not  lowering  the 
standard  of  membership,  but  simply  increasing  the  op- 
portunity for  the  "members"  to  exercise  an  influence 
over  a  larger  number  of  young  men.  The  report  for 
1849  thus  states  the  Committee's  purpose  (page  13) : 

"  That  without  in  the  slightest  degree  impairing  the 
distinctive  character  and  design  of  membership  in  the 
Association,  of  the  value  of  which  every  year  has 
brought  additional  proof,  many  young  men  of  good 
moral  character  may  be  provided  for,  by  the  society, 
under  the  simple  plan  of  a  money  subscription,  and 
that  by  this  means  in  widening  our  sphere  of  influence 
we  will  be  fulfilling  our  mission,  and  by  God's  help 
promoting  more  largely  the  spiritual  improvement  of 
young  men."     Thus  the  /Association  entered  the   field 

5  Shiplon's  History,  p.  72. 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIA  TION.      57 

as  a  social  resort  for  young  men,  and  added  to  its  Con- 
stitution by  admitting  young  men  of  good  moral  char- 
acter as  "  associates."  This  distinction  of  the  two  classes 
of  members  is  of  the  utmost  importance  in  understand- 
ing the  development  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  As- 
sociation. It  was  the  logical  culmination  of  the  policy 
already  adopted.  In  order  to  bring  young  men  who 
were  not  Christians  under  the  influences  of  young  men 
who  were,  and  at  the  same  time  preserve  the  spiritual 
aim  and  character  of  the  Association,  these  two  classes 
of  membership  were  a  necessity. 

The  Association  movement  was  about  to  step  forth  as 
a  world-wide  organization.  Other  societies  for  young 
men  with  similar  objects  had  arisen,  flourished,  ex- 
tended over  considerable  territory,  exerted  a  marked 
influence  and  then  disappeared,  but  this  organization 
was  based  upon  vital  principles,  which  were  destined  to 
give  it  a  continued  life.  It  had  many  strong  features, 
but  there  are  two  principles  which  have  given  the  As- 
sociation permanency  and  success : 

(i)  The  placing  of  the  management  and  control  in 
the  hands,  only,  of  men  who  had  consecrated  themselves 
to  Jesus  Christ. 

(2)  The  unswerving  devotion  to  the  aim  of  winning 
young  men  to  become  Christians. 

The  Associations  have  extended  over  a  wide  territory, 
they  have  adapted  themselves  to  varying  surroundings, 
and  have  used  countless  agencies,  but  they  have  inva- 
riably been  true  to  these  two  principles,  or  they  have 
ceased  to  exist. 

We  pass  now  to  consider  the  development  during  the 
years  1845-1851,  first  of  the  spiritual,  second  of  the  in- 
tellectual, and  third  of  the  social  agencies  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

RELIGIOUS   WORK. 

The  Society  now    (i 845-1 851)  began  to  carry  on  a 


58  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

widely  extended  activity.  The  heart  of  the  church  had 
awakened  to  its  appeals.  Christian  business  men  were 
watching  its  efforts  with  interest.  The  Evangelical 
Alliance,  which  has  worked  in  such  close  harmony  with 
the  Association,  was  founded  in  1846,  and  rallied  all  de- 
nominations on  a  common  platform.  The  Evangelical 
party  in  the  Established  Church,  and  the  Non-Con- 
formists were  redoubling  their  zeal  to  win  the  city. 
"Early  closing"  became  an  accomplished  fact  in  the 
winter  of  1849.  The  Exeter  Hall  preaching  services 
for  Sunday  evening,  started  by  the  "  Evangelicals  "  of 
the  Established  Church,  then  forbidden  by  the  church 
authorities  and  re-undertaken  by  the  Dissenters,  soon 
developed  into  the  Sunday  Theatre  services,  in  which 
Lord  Shaftesbury  took  a  prominent  part.**  There  was  a 
strong  public  sym.pathy  behind  a  movement  which 
aimed  to  save  young  men. 

The  first  form  of  direct  spiritual  endeavor  outside  of 
commercial  houses  which  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  undertook  was  the  devotional  meeting  for 
the  members  of  the  new  organization.  Members  of  the 
Association  carried  on  prayer  meetings,  Bible  classes, 
or  Mutual  Improvement  Societies,  in  the  various  houses 
of  business  in  which  they  were  employed,  and  then 
came  together  to  talk  over  the  work  of  the  week,  and 
pray  for  spiritual  power  and  refreshment.  This  meet- 
ing, at  first  held  once  a  fortnight,  but  very  soon  weekly, 
on  a  week-day  evening,  was  attended  by  members  and 
such  friends  as  they  chose  to  invite,  and  also  by  young 
men  to  whom  the  Committee  gave  invitations.  The 
attendance  by  1847  numbered  80  young  men  at  the 
Parent  Association. 

The  Annual  Report  for  1851  (page  19)  says  :  "  The 
meetings  for  prayer  have  been  from  the  commencement 
of  the  Association  one  of  the  chief  channels  of  its  life 

«  Hodder's  "  Life  of  Shaftesbury." 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      o9 

and  usefulness.  At  the  central  and  district  meetings, 
there  are  about  three  hundred  young  men,  who  thus 
meet  together  regularly.  Very  many  young  Christians 
who  have  to  contend  against  the  unprincipled  push  for 
gain,  or  the  miasma  of  impure  conversation,  have  found 
at  these  meetings  the  emotions  of  a  spiritual  life  quick- 
ened, and  have  gained  courage  to  confess  Christ  before 
his  enemies."  Testimonies  of  individual  members  of 
the  Association  and  of  young  men  who  were  led  to  be- 
come Christians  through  these  devotional  meetings 
abound  in  the  reports. 

The  prayer  meeting  for  members  and  invited  friends 
was  one  of  the  powerful  spiritual  agencies  during  the 
"  Formative  Period "  of  the  English  work,  and  one 
destined  to  become  a  permanent  feature. 

The  second  development  in  the  direct  spiritual  work 
was  the  establishment  of  a  Bible  class  for  Sunday  after- 
noon, by  the  secretary,  Mr.  Tarlton,  in  June,  1845.  This 
class  soon  numbered  38  young  men.  A  second  Bible 
class  was  conducted  on  a  week-day  evening  by  George 
Williams.  "  Young  men  on  their  arrival  from  the 
country  were  immediately  introduced  to  these  classes 
by  some  member,  if  found  willing  to  attend."  '^ 

These  classes  were  not  intended  for  advanced  Bible 
study,  but  were  composed  of  young  Christians  or  young 
men  seeking  spiritual  light.  The  one  led  by  George 
Williams  was  especially  adapted  for  recently  converted 
young  men.  The  Sunday  afternoon  class  aimed  directly 
to  win  men  who  were  not  Christians  to  a  decision.  An 
incident  recorded  in  the  Second  Annual  Report  (p.  15), 
November,  1846,  gives  a  picture  of  the  work  of  these 
classes :  "About  nine  months  since  a  member  of  the 
Association  invited  an  unconverted  young  man  to  go 
with  him  to  the  Bible  class  in  Sergeant's  Inn.  He  will- 
ingly  consented,   and   continued   to   attend   regularly. 

'  Page  14,  Second  Annual  Report. 


60  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

Some  time  elapsed  without  any  apparent  effect  being 
produced  on  his  mind,  but  after  a  time  the  truth  found 
its  way  to  his  heart  through  the  powerful  influence  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  and  he  is  now  a  sincere  and  humble 
follower  of  the  Saviour.  No  sooner  had  he  felt  the  value 
of  his  own  soul,  than  his  attention  was  directed  to  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  his  most  intimate  companion.  Hav- 
ing described  to  him  the  change  of  mind  he  had  expe- 
rienced, he  prevailed  on  him  to  attend  the  Bible  class, 
which  through  God's  blessing  has  resulted  in  his  con- 
version. Both  are  now  actively  engaged  as  Sunday- 
school  teachers,  and  have  offered  themselves  for  admis- 
sion to  the  visible  church  of  Christ." 

"  These  classes  are  for  young  men  not  members  of 
churches,  and  form  a  distinctly  evangelistic  effort. 
There  are  no  members  of  the  Association  present  ex- 
cept those  who  are  engaged  in  the  conduct  of  the  neces- 
sary arrangements,  it  being  the  object  of  the  Associa- 
tion that  all  who  through  grace  have  believed,  should 
at  once  take  part  in  Sunday-school  or  ragged  school 
teaching,  or  in  some  of  those  varied  instrumentalities 
by  which  the  Gospel  is  carried  to  the  destitute  and  the 
perishing  on  the  Lord's  Day."  ® 

A  third  Bible  class  was  formed  in  1848.  Bible  study 
as  a  means  of  winning  young  men  and  strengthening 
young  Christians  has  ever  remained  a  prominent  feature 
of  the  movement.  The  Association  is  founded  upon 
the  Word  of  God. 

Evangelistic  Bible  classes  were  the  chief  means  used 
at  the  rooms  of  the  London  Association  for  winning 
voung  men  to  become  Christians.  This  has  been  true, 
more  in  England  than  in  America,  where  the  "  Men's 
Gospel  Meetings"  have  become  the  chief  agency. 
Bible  classes  have  been  used  more  in  America  as  a 
means  of  developing  Christians  and  Christian  workers. 

^"Occasional  Paper,"  No.  i,  1853,  Gresham  Street,  London,  p.  7. 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      Gl 

The  Annual  Report  for  1849  says :  "The  classes  for 
Biblical  instruction,  and  the  devotional  meetings,  mav 
be  regarded  as  the  arteries  and  sinews  of  the  Associa- 
tion." "  It  is,  therefore,  with  gratitude  that  the  Commit- 
tee report  that  their  vigor  has  not  been  impaired,  but 
rather  augmented  by  the  external  eifort  of  the  past  year. 
In  the  last  report  (1848)  the  average  weekly  attendance 
at  the  three  Bible  classes  was  stated  to  be  no.  For 
some  time  past  it  has  averaged  200," 

The  chief  work  of  the  Association  during  this  period 
was  not,  however,  the  work  done  at  the  headquarters, 
where  the  Bible  classes  and  prayer  meetings  assembled. 
The  Association  was  conceived  of  as  a  body  of  young 
men  working  for  Jesus  Christ,  "  in  the  sphere  of  their 
daily  calling."  Through  all  this  period  the  organizing 
and  conducting  of  prayer  meetings  and  group  Bible 
classes  in  houses  of  business  continued  to  be  a  leading, 
perhaps  the  chief  feature  of  the  Association's  activity. 
Untold  blessings  followed  this  effort ;  testimonies  simi- 
lar to  those  already  quoted  abound  in  the  early  reports. 
At  the  close  of  the  second  year  (the  fall  of  1846),  relig- 
ious services  had  been  introduced  and  were  main- 
tained throughout  this  period  in  twenty  different  houses 
of  business  employing  no  less  than  a  thousand  young 
men.  At  one  time  the  number  of  houses  increased  to 
thirty. 

The  underlying  principle  of  this  work  is  alluded  to 
frequently  in  the  early  reports — "  That  the  duty  of  the 
members  should  be  to  exert  a  Christian  influence  in  the 
sphere  of  their  daily  calling."  This  constant  testimony 
to  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion  bore  abundant 
fruit.  The  members  came  to  the  meetings  of  the  Asso- 
ciation for  inspiration  and  to  report  their  work,  and 
then  dispersed  through  the  houses  of  business  during 
the  week  and  to  Sunday-schools  and  churches  and  mis- 
sions on  the  Sabbath,  to  engage  in  Christian  endeavor. 


62  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

The  report  for  1849,  after  summing  up  the  achievement 
of  the  year,  repeats  this  thought :  It  says  : — "We  would 
affectionately  suggest  to  our  brethren  that  the  supreme 
aim  of  your  daily  life  should  be  to  bring  glory  to  your 
Redeemer,  and  that  the  most  appropriate  sphere  for  the 
attainment  of  this  object  is  that  of  your  daily  calling." 

The  nature  of  the  work  in  these  business  establish- 
ments may  be  seen  from  the  following  account  taken 
from  the  report  for  1847.  A  member  writes :  "  We  have 
more  than  a  hundred  young  men  in  our  establishment, 
thirty-seven  of  whom  are  members  of  the  Church  of 
Christ.  It  is  our  privilege  to  meet  every  morning  for 
half  an  hour  for  family  worship  before  commencing  the 
duties  of  the  day.  On  Tuesday  evening  we  have  a 
Bible  class,  and  on  Saturday  evening  a  prayer  meeting. 
Both  are  well  attended  and  often  prove  times  of  great 
spiritual  profit.  We  have  also  a  Mutual  Improvement 
Society  for  the  deliverance  of  lectures,  debates,  etc. 
The  average  attendance  is  about  50." 

In  close  connection  with  the  devotional  meetings  and 
Bible  classes  in  commercial  houses,  a  form  of  effort  was 
adopted,  by  which  members  could  make  themselves 
felt  as  they  went  about  their  daily  occupation.  One  of 
the  powerful  means  of  winning  young  men  used  from 
the  beginning  was  personal  interviews  between  Chris- 
tian young  men  and  their  companions  on  the  subject  of 
personal  religion.  We  have  already  seen  that  this  was 
the  almost  daily  habit  of  George  Williams,  from  whom 
the  inspiration  came.  It  was  urged  again  and  again  as 
the  highest  form  of  activity  of  the  Association.  An- 
other method  was  a  kind,  sympathetic  personal  pleading 
at  the  close  of  a  meeting  or  Bible  class  with  any  uncon- 
verted young  man  who  might  be  willing  to  remain  for  a 
few  moments'  conversation.  In  the  next  period  this 
developed  into  the  "  after  meeting,"  following  the 
praver  meeting  and  Bible  class,  to  which  young  men 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      63 

seeking  to  become  Christians  were  invited.  The  First 
Annual  Report  read  in  November,  1845,  gives  an  ac- 
count of  this  work  in  one  of  the  commercial  houses.  "  I 
may  mention  as  one  of  the  best  results  of  our  connection 
with  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  the  forma- 
tion among  us  of  a  society,  the  members  of  which  each 
take  a  young  man  in  the  establishment  as  an  especial 
object  of  his  care,  to  seek  by  Christian  persuasion  and 
the  influence  of  companionship  to  induce  him  to  attend 
church  and  prayer  meeting,  and  by  speaking  to  him 
and  praying  for  him  to  bring  him,  through  God's  bless- 
ing, to  the  cross  of  Christ." 

In  the  report  with  which  "  the  formative  period  "  of 
the  London  work  closes  occurs  an  illustration  of  the 
way  members  dealt  personally  with  young  men.  One 
Avrites  (p.  21):  "Two  members  of  your  Association 
kindly  asked  me  to  attend  the  meetings,  where  I 
derived  much  benefit ;  but  I  found  more  from  being 
called  aside  by  them  after  one  meeting,  when  they 
persuaded  me  to  give  up  my  sin  and  turn  to  Him  who 
has  said,  '  Whosoever  believeth  on  Christ  shall  not 
perish  but  have  everlasting  life.'  They  kindly  prayed 
with  me,  and  through  these  means  I  was  led  to  see  the 
folly  of  my  sin  and  became  accepted  of  God." 

The  Fourth  Annual  Report,  in  commenting  on  the 
personal  work  of  members,  says:  "That  the  members 
of  the  Association  have  in  their  daily  callings  influenced 
over  6,000  young  men." 

In  December  of  1846,  the  Association  headquarters 
presented  a  busy  scene.  A  prominent  minister  had 
consented  to  prepare  a  special  address  to  young  men, 
which  was  to  be  published  in  a  neat,  attractive  little 
volume.  The  members  of  the  Association  secured  the 
names  of  ten  thousand  young  men  in  London.  A  copy 
of  this  address  was  done  up  carefully,  directed,  and  on 
New  Year's  Day,  January  i,  1847,  presented  to  each  of 


64  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

these  ten  thousand  young  men.  "The  novelty  of  these 
addresses,  their  free  bestowment,  and  the  circumstance 
of  their  being  enclosed  personally  to  individuals,  ren- 
dered them  generally  very  acceptable,  and  in  several 
cases  the  Committee  were  made  aware  of  their  useful- 
ness."^ 

The  Annual  Report  for  1849  says:  "In  the  great 
majority  of  instances  they  were  received  with  no  less 
good  feeling  than  astonishment."  This  wide  distribu- 
tion of  New  Year's  addresses  on  such  subjects  as  "  Real 
Joy,"  "  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Year,"  "Papers  to 
Young  Men,"  was  continued  for  four  years  and  was  a 
characteristic  feature  of  this  period.  Of  a  similar  na- 
ture was  the  extensive  circulation  of  "  tracts  "  and  small 
leaflets,  filled  with  pithy  statements  of  the  way  of  salva- 
tion. A  special  effort  was  made  for  a  wide  distribution 
of  readable  Christian  literature  upon  the  occasion  with 
which  this  first  period  of  the  London  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  closes  the  first "  World's  Fair"  held 
in  London,  1851.  This  exhibition  brought  thousands 
of  strangers  from  all  over  the  world  to  London,  and 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  made  a  special 
effort  to  present  the  Gospel  to  young  men  who  at- 
tended from  British  and  foreign  lands.  The  meetings 
and  lectures  arranged  failed  to  attract  large  audiences, 
owing  to  the  season  of  the  year,  and  the  excitement  at- 
tendant upon  the  exhibition,  but  the  distribution  of  lit- 
erature proved  very  successful.  London  was  divided 
into  six  districts,  and  two  members  of  the  Association 
assigned  to  each  district.  Every  Sunday  during  the 
exhibition  these  districts  were  canvassed  and  tracts 
given  to  all  young  men  with  whom  the  members  came 
in  contact.  In  this  way  three  hundred  and  fifty-two 
thousand  direct  and  affectionate  statements  of  the  Gos- 
pel were  presented  to  young  men  from  almost  every 

^  Shipton,  "  History  of  the  London  Association,"  p.  40. 


BEGINNIXGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      65 

town  and  city  of  Great  Britain ;  each  leaflet  had  also  a 
statement  about  the  Association,  with  an  invitation  to 
visit  its  rooms.  Those  little  leaflets,  as  the  reports 
show,  not  only  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  many  young 
men,  but  even  in  the  founding  of  young  men's  meetings 
in  distant  cities. 

The  Association  had  now  become  a  recognized  spirit- 
ual power.  It  had  demonstrated  that  consecrated  voung 
men  compactly  organized  were  a  mighty  force  in 
winning  their  fellows  to  become  Christians.  It  is, 
of  course,  impossible  to  measure  results  of  a  spirit- 
ual character  in  figures,  even  if  they  could  be  se- 
cured. 

The  Association  was  plainly  successful  in  carrying 
out  its  aim.  At  the  first  public  gathering  in  Radley's 
Hotel,  twenty- three  young  men  are  reported  as  having 
been  brought  to  Christ ;  at  the  second  meeting,  held  in 
March,  1845,  one  writer  says  :  "It  gives  us  joy  to  know 
that  six  in  our  house  who  at  our  last  '  tea  meeting  ' 
(November  8,  1844,)  were  strangers  to  God,  and  with- 
out hope  in  the  world,  are  now  happy  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  being  reconciled  to  Him."  The  Fourth 
Annual  Report  (1848)  says:  "The  most  aflfecting 
fact  is  the  conversion  of  fifty  immortal  souls  during 
the  year.  Almost  the  whole  of  this  number  have  been 
received  into  membership  and  communion  with  dif- 
ferent branches  of  the  Church."  The  Fifth  Report  for 
the  year  1849  states:  "During  this  year  we  have  re- 
ceived evidence  that  upwards  of  ninety  young  men  have 
confessed  themselves  indebted  to  the  instrumentality  of 
this  Association  for  their  experience  of  the  force  and 
power  of  the  Gospel.  The  large  majority  of  these  have 
been  received  into  communion  with  the  various  Chris- 
tian churches.  Your  Committee  rejoices  in  the  evidence 
which  is  furnished  by  this  fact,  as  well  as  in  almost 
every  letter  cited  in  their  report,  that  the  labors  of  the 


66  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

Association  are  in  every  way  auxiliary  to  the  churches 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

The  first  seven  years  resulted  in  intensifying  the  spir- 
itual aims  of  the  Association.  It  became  clearly  under- 
stood that  its  chief  object  was  the  winning  to  Jesus 
Christ  of  young  men.  In  these  seven  years,  hundreds, 
perhaps  reaching  to  thousands,  of  young  men  in  Lon- 
don were  converted.  Large  numbers  of  Christians 
were  encouraged  and  led  to  become  workers,  while 
many  more  young  men,  probably  one  hundred  thou- 
sand, had  the  Gospel  presented  to  them  individually. 
The  Association  had  gained  experience,  and  now  had 
definitely  settled  upon  five  lines  of  direct  spiritual 
work  : 

(i)  Devotional  meetings  for  prayer  and  fellowship, 
especially  for  members. 

(2)  Bible  classes  for  both  unconverted  young  men 
and  young  Christians. 

(3)  Religious  services  in  houses  of  business. 

(4)  Personal  work. 

(5)  The  distribution  of  tracts  and  Christian  litera- 
ture. 

INTELLECTUAL   WORK. 

While  the  Association  was  still  a  germ  in  the  Hitch- 
cock business  establishment,  the  "  Mutual  Improvement 
Society"  became  a  part  of  its  work.  In  this  step  was 
involved  the  whole  principle  for  which  the  Association 
stands  in  its  indirect  work  for  young  men.  The  su- 
preme aim  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
has  ever  been  the  extension  of  Christ's  Kingdom.  The 
striking  sociological  fact  already  discussed  is  that  in 
carrying  out  this  purpose  it  has  become  a  powerful 
agency  for  developing  young  men,  intellectually,  so- 
cially and  physically.  It  has  been  led  to  seek  the  sym- 
metrical development  of  the  whole  man.    The  first  step 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      67 

was  the  establishment  of  a  course  of  popular  lectures. 
These  were  open  to  the  general  public  and  were  suc- 
cessful from  the  start.  As  many  as  1,400  persons  were 
present  at  single  lectures  given  during  the  first  winter. 
Leading  ministers  of  all  denominations,  statesmen,  uni- 
versity professors  and  philanthropists  have  appeared  in 
this  lecture  course.  It  quickly  became  the  lecture  plat- 
form of  London.  In  the  first  course  of  twelve  lectures 
a  variety  of  interesting  topics  were  treated,  such  as 
"  Monumental  Evidences  of  Christianity,"  "Ancient 
Rome  and  IModern  London,"  "The  Extent  and  the 
Moral  Statistics  of  the  British  Empire,"  "  Luther  and 
the  Reformation,"  and  "Ancient  and  Modern  Pales- 
tine." These  lectures  were  given  weekly  during  a 
period  of  twelve  weeks,  usually  beginning  about  De- 
cember I  St.  "  For  three  years  the  lectures  were  deliv- 
ered in  alternate  weeks  at  the  Wesleyan  Centenary  Hall 
in  the  city  and  at  a  room  in  the  West  End  of  London. 
The  tickets  for  this  course  of  twelve  lectures  were  sold 
for  a  shilling,  or  two-pence  for  a  single  lecture."^'* 
Young  men  attended  them  in  large  numbers.  The 
lectures  were  published,  and  thousands  of  copies 
found  a  ready  sale.  In  1849,  the  Committee  ventured 
to  rent  the  large  Exeter  Hall  for  this  lecture  course. 
The  result  vindicated  the  wisdom  of  this  decision. 
This  large  audience  room,  seating  from  2,500  to  3,000 
people,  where  Wilberforce  had  championed  the  rights 
of  the  slave,  where  the  "  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  "  had  held  its  stirring  anniversary,  where  the 
"  May  Meetings  "  of  the  myriad  religious  and  benev- 
olent agencies  of  London  and  England  voiced  the  needs 
of  a  world,  where  Lord  Shaftesbury  had  pleaded  the 
cause  of  the  oppressed,  and  where  many  a  devoted  mis- 
sionary has  bidden  farewell  to  England  as  he  set  his  face 

^''Stevenson's   "Young  Men's   Christian  Association,"  London, 
1S84,  p.  41. 


68  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

to  the  foreign  field ;  this  consecrated  hall  opening  on 
the  crowded  Strand,  destined  in  later  years  to  become 
the  home  of  the  Association,  became  after  1849  the 
platform  of  its  winter  lecture  courses,  which  were 
called  the  "  Exeter  Hall  Lectures."  The  Association 
was  a  pioneer  in  the  lecture  field  ;  it  has  exerted  a  great 
influence. 

As  new  Associations  have  been  formed  they  have  fol- 
lowed the  example  of  the  parent  Association,  until  to- 
day thousands  of  lectures  are  delivered  annually  from 
the  platform  of  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations. 
In  the  Report  for  185 1,  the  close  of  the  "  Formative 
Period "  of  the  London  work,  the  Committee  said  (p. 
10) :  "  When  we  commenced  this  form  of  effort  it  was 
an  experiment  of  such  interest  as  to  involve  decided 
public  influences  in  its  success.  This  result  may  be 
seen  in  the  stimulant  to  similar  effort  which  has  been 
widely  diffused,  and  in  the  greatly  improved  tone  and 
tendency  of  public  lectures  generally.  The  fact  that  in 
connection  with  the  Association  alone  there  have  been 
above  120  lectures  for  young  men  during  the  past  year, 
suggests  an  idea  of  the  extent  to  which  this  agency  has 
already  been  multiplied.  Of  the  lectures  delivered  in 
London,  above  half  a  million  copies  have  been  circu- 
lated, and  who  shall  tell  the  work  which  they  have 
silently  done  ;  the  fibre  and  muscle  of  character  which 
in  God's  hands  they  may  have  supplied  to  thousands. 
The  lectures  were  of  a  decidedly  Protestant  character 
and  of  a  high  moral  tone." 

The  Report  for  1849  says  (p.  10) :  "In  very  many  in- 
stances young  men  are  drawn  to  the  Hall  who  are  unac- 
customed to  attend  the  ordinary  means  of  spiritual 
instruction.  In  others,  the  lectures  prove  a  direct  means 
of  religious  awakening,  and  in  others  the  first  step  to 
the  churches."  "  In  one  instance,  the  mind  of  an  inter- 
esting young  man  was  opened  to  apprehend  God's  way 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      69 

of  salvatiou,  who  has  since  entered  one  of  the  universi- 
ties, with  a  view  to  prepare  himself  for  the  sacred  work 
of  the  ministry."  In  the  Report  for  1850,  a  young  man 
writes :  "  It  will,  I  know,  be  gratifying  to  you  to  hear 
that  the  first  awakening  of  my  soul  to  its  true  state  was 
consequent  upon  attending  the  last  course  of  lectures 
given  at  Exeter  Hall." 

How  directly  what  are  called  the  "  secular  agencies  " 
began  from  the  first  to  minister  to  the  main  purpose  of 
the  Association  is  seen  from  these  and  other  testimo- 
nies in  the  report.  Here  was  a  new  thought,  a  discov- 
ery of  great  moment.  It  was  found  that  certain  agen- 
cies usually  regarded  as  secular,  under  Christian  admin- 
istration, might  be  used  to  win  men  to  a  religious  life. 
The  development  of  this  idea  grew  with  the  Associa- 
tion. 

It  belongs  to  the  fundamental  idea  that  religion  aims 
to  save  the  whole  man,  and  whatever  helps  to  make 
him  a  better  man  in  body,  mind  or  spirit,  lifts  him  to  a 
higher  life. 

The  opening  of  the  library  and  reading  room,  Octo- 
ber I,  1848,  has  already  been  alluded  to.  This  was  an 
additional  recognition  of  the  intellectual  needs  of  young 
men.  The  Report  for  1850  says  :  *'  The  Committee  are 
thankful  to  record  that  the  experience  of  the  past  year 
has  fully  realized  the  anticipations  by  which  they  were 
led  to  open  the  library  and  reading  room  in  Gresham 
Street.  Five  hundred  young  men  have  availed  them- 
selves of  the  privileges  it  affords,  and  many  have  been 
led  in  consequence  to  attend  the  religious  meetings  of 
the  Association.  Classes  are  in  operation  in  French, 
German,  Hebrew  and  Greek  languages,  mathematics, 
arithmetic  and  book-keeping,  in  history  and  essay  writ- 
ing, and  for  the  practice  of  Psalmody.  Arrangements 
have  been  made  for  the  delivery  of  a  lecture  course  at 
the  rooms  of  the  Association  every  alternate  week,  save 


70  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

during  the  winter  session  at  Exeter  Hall."  .  By  June, 
1849,  the  number  of  volumes  in  the  library  had  reached 
one  thousand.  By  1851,  the  number  of  young  men 
using  the  advantages  of  the  library  numbered  650,  of 
whom  425  were  "  associates."  Mr.  Shipton,  who  took 
charge  as  Secretary,  near  the  close  of  1850,  writes :  "  In 
accordance  with  the  desire  and  expectation  of  the  Com- 
mittee, many  of  those  who  have  attended  the  library 
and  reading  rooms  have  also  frequented  the  Bible 
class  and  devotional  meeting,  and  have  entered  upon 
the  profession  of  their  faith  in  the  Gospel  there  illus- 
trated and  proclaimed.  Very  many  thus  brought  within 
the  influence  of  the  Association  would  not  otherwise 
have  been  reached."  ^ 

In  1853,  speaking  at  a  public  meeting  of  the  friends 
of  the  Association,  Mr.  Samuel  Morley  said :  "  The 
great  attraction  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion, to  my  own  mind,  has  been  this, — that  it  has  pre- 
sented us  a  platform  on  which  various  kinds  of  agencies 
may  be  brought  to  bear  for  the  benefit  of  young  men. 
I  need  scarcely  say  that  we  believe  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  spiritual  life  in  young  men,  and  that  there  is  pro- 
vided here  a  large  arrangement  of  Bible  classes  and 
other  forms  of  religious  teaching,  from  which  I  am  quite 
sure  that  great  benefit  has  been  derived.  But  no  one 
acquainted  with  the  life  of  a  young  man  in  l/ondon  can 
be  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  he  is  surrounded  with 
temptations  of  the  most  horrible  kind,  leading  young 
men  into  habits  by  which  hundreds  die  oflf  every  yer.r 
from  pure  physical  ruin,  and  it  has  been  to  me  a  source 
of  great  satisfaction  to  have  opportunity  for  ofi"ering  in 
plain  and  distinct  language  advice  to  young  men  on  the 
ruinous  tendency  of  such  conduct." 

1  Shipton's  History  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association, 
Exeter  Hall  Ivectures,  Vol.  I.,  1855. 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      71 
THE   SOCIAL  WORK. 

The  very  name  "  Association  of  Young  Men  "  sug- 
gests companionship,  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  the 
leaders  early  recognized  the  need  of  a  resort  for  young 
men  under  elevating  influences.  One  of  the  objects 
in  organizing  the  Sunday  afternoon  Bible  class  was  to 
give  young  men  an  opportunity  to  meet  together  under 
wholesome  influences,  instead  of  wasting  the  Sabbath 
in  idleness  or  sin.  Mr.  Shipton  stated  it  thus :  "  It 
was  an  endeavor  to  provide  a  resort  for  steady  youths 
without  homes,  and  by  kindly,  social  intercourse  to 
pave  the  way  for  the  influence  of  public  worship." 

The  conception,  however,  of  the  Association  as  a  re- 
.sort,  open  day  and  night,  frequented  by  young  men,  in 
order  to  draw  them  away  from  temptation,  did  not 
really  take  shape  until  the  opening  of  the  rooms  in 
Gresham  Street,  in  October,  1848.  Here  the  sociolog- 
ical fact  that  young  men  can  be  influenced  by  changing 
their  environment  began  to  find  expression.  Within  a 
year,  four  hundred  young  men  who  were  not  Christians 
were  led  to  frequent  these  attractive  rooms,  take  advan- 
tage of  the  reading  room,  library,  and  educational 
classes,  and  mingle  with  the  Christian  young  men 
who  were  members  of  the  society.  In  order  to  keep 
these  young  men  more  continually  under  this  influence, 
a  restaurant  was  opened  in  the  Gresham  Street  apart- 
ments, between  5  and  10  in  the  evening,  so  that  young 
men  for  a  reasonable  price  could  get  their  evening  tea 
at  the  rooms,  and  opportunity  be  afibrded  them  to 
spend  the  evening  in  the  wholesome  surroundings  of 
the  Association. 

"  Occasional  Paper,"  No.  i,  says  :  *'  We  desire  by  these 
means  to  present  some  counter  attraction  to  the  places 
of  social  and  convivial  resort  open  to  young  men  after 
the  hours  of  business"  (p.  6). 


72  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  Report  for  1852  states  :  "  None  can  re- 
ally know  the  isolation  and  discomfort  of  young  men's 
lodgings  without  perceiving  that  they  are  necessarily 
exposed  to  terrible  temptation.  Many  have  confessed 
that  our  rooms,  with  the  quiet  retirement  and  intelli- 
gent companionship  they  afford,  have  been  among  the 
greatest  blessings  they  enjoy."  The  rooms  were  the 
office  of  the  "Agent"  of  the  Association,  and  many  in- 
stances are  recorded  of  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  of 
personal  interviews  with  young  men,  who  were  led  by 
him  to  become  Christians.  Since  the  year  1848,  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  has  exercised  a 
mighty  influence  as  a  social  resort. 

This  feature  of  Association  activity  was  destined  to 
be  more  fully  developed  in  America,  but  it  originated 
with  the  parent  Association  at  London.  The  London 
organization  in  Gresham  Street  had  become  in  1851  a 
well-defined  institution,  seeking  to  provide  for  the  spir- 
itual, intellectual  and  social  needs  of  young  men. 

Sec.  II. — Financial  History. 

The  early  Association  movement  cannot  be  appreciated 
without  a  knowledge  of  its  financial  policy.  There  is  no 
brighter  page  in  the  history  of  the  church  than  the 
financial  progress  of  this  work  for  young  men  during 
the  last  fifty  years.  The  self-denying  love  on  the  part 
of  young  men  struggling  to  get  a  footing  in  the  world ; 
the  noble  devotion  of  Christian  business  men ;  the  un- 
faltering persistence  and  apostolic  faith  of  finance  com- 
mittees, who  have  accepted  the  part  assigned  to  them  as 
an  important  trust,  have  marked  the  Association's 
financial  history  from  its  foundation. 

Sixpence  was  the  humble  fee  charged  for  admission 
at  first,  with  a  similar  amount  due  quarterly.  At  the 
first  half-yearly  tea  given  at  Radley's  Hotel  in  Novem- 
ber, 1844,  the  Committee  stated  what  has  been  the  finan- 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      73 

cial  policy  of  the  organization  ever  since.  "  The  Com- 
mittee begs  leave  to  remark  that  though  this  sum  ( six- 
pence per  quarter)  will  be  insufficient  to  defray  current 
expenses,  yet  it  has  been  considered  advisable  to  place 
so  low  a  sum  as  a  quarterly  subscription,  relying  on  the 
spontaneous  liberality  of  members  and  friends,  for  the 
additional  expense  of  the  work." 

Following  this  gathering,  steps  were  at  once  under- 
taken to  secure  130  pounds  as  the  salary  for  the  super- 
intendent of  the  Association.  The  Committee  estab- 
lished a  precedent  which  became  a  principle  with  the 
organization :  On  the  ground  that  a  young  man  was  of 
greater  service  to  his  employer  for  being  a  Christian 
man,  they  invited  merchants,  and  others,  who  employed 
young  men,  to  contribute  to  the  Association.  By  Jan- 
uary, 1845,  the  sum  of  70  pounds  had  been  contributed 
by  the  young  men  themselves,  and  business  men  inter- 
ested in  the  work.  In  1845,  M^-  Geo.  Hitchcock  accept- 
ed the  position  of  treasurer.  This  was  an  important 
advance  and  bears  a  vital  relation  to  the  growth  of  the 
Association.  The  early  financial  history  of  the  organi- 
zation is  bound  up  with  the  life  of  this  man.  He  had 
already  contributed  more  largely  than  any  one  else 
toward  the  fund  to  secure  a  missionary.  His  first  act  as 
treasurer  was,  at  his  own  expense,  to  equip  and  rent 
suitable  rooms  for  the  Association  in  Sergeant's  Inn. 
The  receipts  of  the  Association  for  1846  were  287 
pounds;  the  disbursements  372  pounds;  the  balance,  85 
pounds,  was  loaned  to  the  Association  by  Mr.  Hitchcock. 
The  membership  dues  at  the  close  of  the  second  year 
were  abolished,  and  the  Association  was  supported  en- 
tirely by  voluntary  contributions,  but  all  young  men, 
whether  members  or  associates,  habitually  using  the 
library,  reading  room,  and  other  privileges  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, paid  an  annual  fee  of  ten  shillings.  In  addition 
to  these  dues  many  young  men  made  contributions  from 


74  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

their  small  incomes,  which  showed  their  devotion  to  the 
work.  The  year  1845-1846,  Geo.  Williams  and  Mr. 
Durrant,  both  of  the  original  Committee  of  twelve,  gave 
two  pounds  each.  Two  other  young  men  gave  one 
pound,  one  shilling  each.  Five  gave  10  shillings  each. 
The  third  year  the  debt  of  85  pounds  and  the  expenses, 
a  total  of  600  pounds,  were  all  paid,  leaving  a  balance 
of  eight  pounds  in  the  treasury. 

The  fourth  year  the  expenses  were  608  pounds.  The 
expenses  of  the  next  year  were  very  large,  owing  to 
occupying  and  equipping  of  the  Gresham  Street  rooms. 
By  a  vigorous  effort  over  2,100  pounds  were  raised  and 
expended  upon  the  year's  work  for  1849.  The  apart- 
ments thus  provided  with  parlors,  secretary's  rooms, 
library  and  educational  class-rooms  laid  the  foundation 
for  future  work.  Annual  subscriptions  are  reported  of  25, 
20,  and  15  pounds  each.  Mr.  Bevan,  the  president,  gave 
41  pounds,  and  Mr.  Geo.  Hitchcock  made  the  generous 
donation  of  161  pounds  and  five  shillings.  Mr.  Geo. 
Williams  showed  his  devotion  by  giving  what  must 
have  been  a  sacrifice  at  the  time,  the  sum  of  25  pounds 
toward  the  new  equipment.  The  expenditures  for  1850 
were  2,080  pounds,  with  a  balance  in  the  treasury  of  56 
pounds.  The  Association  was  now  undertaking  an  ex- 
tensive work.  Its  varied  agencies  required  large 
amounts  of  money.  The  great  exhibition  was  close  at 
hand  and  the  Committee  determined  to  take  advantage 
of  the  opportunity  this  would  afford,  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel to  large  throngs  of  young  men  who  would  crowd  the 
capital.  To  do  this  required  increased  means.  Mr. 
Geo.  Hitchcock  enlarged  his  contribution  to  the  liberal 
sum  of  350  pounds;  besides  giving  150  pounds  toward 
equipping  the  rooms  opened  by  the  branch  in  the  West 
End.  The  expenses  for  the  year  were  3,438  pounds,  all 
but  30  pounds  of  which  were  raised  during  the  year. 
The  records  frequently  make  mention  of  Mr.  Hitchcock's 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION,      "lo 

benevolence.  The  report  for  1849  says:  "The  Com- 
mittee would  hereby  thankfully  acknowledge  the  in- 
creased obligation  of  the  Association  for  the  magnificent 
and  kind  assistance  which,  in  a  variety  of  ways,  has 
been  rendered  by  their  respected  and  beloved  treasurer, 
Mr.  George  Hitchcock." 

Sec.  12. — Extension  of  the  Association. — 1845-51. 

Life  manifests  itself  by  growth ;  it  also  manifests  itself 
by  reproduction.  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tions began  to  multiply.  The  young  men  who  formed 
the  first  organization  had  in  view  first  the  employees  in 
one  commercial  establishment,  then  the  young  men  of 
the  commercial  classes  of  London,  then  at  their  first 
"tea  meeting"  in  1844,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Owen, 
the  idea  was  seized  upon  of  making  an  effort  for  all  the 
young  men  of  London,  and  if  possible  reaching  out  to 
other  cities  of  the  United  Kingdom.  The  aim  of  the 
leaders  grew  rapidly.  Their  hearts  beat  in  sympathy 
with  the  tempted  young  men  walking  the  city  streets  of 
commercial  England.  Their  plans  leaped  forth  to  reach 
all  young  men,  even  while  they  were  struggling  to  solve 
the  problems  of  a  new  organization  at  home. 

The  first  move  of  the  Association,  as  we  have  learned, 
was  to  open  a  headquarters  in  a  coffee  house  at  Ludgate 
Hill.  Not  satisfied  with  this  effort,  before  the  Associa- 
tion was  nine  months  old,  a  branch  Association  was 
formed  in  the  West  End  of  London,  with  a  fortnightly 
meeting  held  in  a  Sunday-school  room  in  Swallow 
Street.  This  branch,  by  March  6th,  1S45,  numbered  fifty 
members.  For  the  first  three  years,  half  of  the  lectures 
were  carried  on  in  this  section  of  the  city.  When  Mr. 
Tarlton  became  secretary,  early  in  1845,  efforts  were 
immediately  undertaken  to  establish  branch  Associations 
in  different  parts  of  London,  and  before  the  end  of  the 
second  year,  branches   had   been   formed  at  four  new 


76  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

points,  so  that  in  November,  1846,  18  months  after  the 
organization  in  the  Hitchcock  establishment,  including 
the  original  central  or  city  Association,  and  the  branch 
at  the  West  End,  there  were  six  Associations  in  Lon- 
don. The  relation  of  these  branches,  as  they  were 
called,  to  the  parent  Association,  was  a  perfectly  volun- 
tary one.  The  constitution  of  the  London  "  City  "  Asso- 
ciation was  amended  so  as  to  read,  "Associations  which 
are  willing  to  unite  with  this  society,  being  similar  in 
their  constitution  and  object,  and  adopting  the  spirit  of 
the  second,  third,  eighth  and  ninth  rules  of  the  Associa- 
tion, shall  be  recognized  as  in  connection  with  and  by 
mutual  consent  termed  branches  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association"  (2d  Report). 

The  rules  specified  refer: 

To  the  object  of  the  Association,  the  spiritual  and 
mental  improvement  of  young  men,  by  any  means  in 
accordance  with  the  Scriptures.  To  the  management  of 
the  organization,  by  a  committee  elected  by  the  mem- 
bership, and  to  the  membership,  which  must  consist  of 
young  men  who  give  decided  evidence  of  conversion  to 
God. 

These  were  the  three  points  which  the  Committee 
deemed  the  essential  basis  for  fellowship  with  other 
Associations.  They  are  of  especial  interest  as  showing 
the  features  which  were  regarded  as  the  chief  essentials 
of  the  new  movement  by  its  founders.  Each  branch 
filed  a  copy  of  its  constitution  with  the  parent  body ; 
sent  it  an  annual  report,  abstracts  of  which  were  printed 
in  the  report  of  the  central  work.  By  vote  of  the  Cen- 
tral Committee,  members  of  branches  were  considered 
*'  members  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association." 
Thus  a  member  was  recognized  as  belonging  not  to  his 
own  local  branch  alone,  but  to  the  whole  movement. 

But  London  did  not  bound  the  horizon  of  these  young 
men.     The  report  read  in  March,   1845,  at  the  second 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      11 

"tea  gathering  "  at  Radley's  Hotel,  echoes  the  resolution 
passed  in  November  of  the  year  before,  when  it  was  re- 
solved to  employ  a  missionary  to  work  among  the  young 
men  of  London.  This  March  report  says :  "  Nor  would 
we  confine  ourselves  to  the  metropolis,  but  through  the 
medium  of  our  missionaries,  extend  ourselves  and  form 
similar  Associations  in  all  the  large  towns  and  cities  of 
the  Kingdom." 

The  industrial  changes  of  the  century  had  made  Eng- 
land a  nation  of  cities.  The  same  conditions,  modified 
somewhat  but  in  the  main  the  same  as  in  London,  pre- 
vailed in  all  the  cities  of  the  Kingdom.  Industrial  Eng- 
land was  full  of  young  men  away  from  home,  without 
home  comforts,  without  opportunities  for  social,  intel- 
lectual or  spiritual  improvement,  tempted,  irreligious,  in 
the  midst  of  the  rush  of  city  life. 

The  same  awful  need  prevailed,  and  with  it  too,  in 
nearly  every  city,  a  small  group  of  young  men  were  found 
who  were  loyal  to  Jesus  Christ.  It  was  only  necessary  for 
a  knowledge  of  the  London  movement  to  spread  for  it  to 
take  root  and  become  a  national  endeavor.  In  accord- 
ance with  the  policy  already  mentioned,  in  1846,  prob- 
ably in  April  or  May,  deputations  from  London,  consist- 
ing of  members  of  the  Association,  generally  with  Mr. 
Tarlton  as  their  leader,  visited  Manchester,  Liverpool, 
Taimton,  Exeter,  and  Leeds,  and  organized  in  each  of 
these  cities  the  nucleus  of  a  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  on  the  London  model.  The  movement  had 
been  metropolitan,  it  now  became  national.  The  fol- 
lowing year,  1847,  Associations  were  organized  in  Hull, 
Oxford,  Derby,  and  Bath.  These  were  followed  by 
others,  which  have  become,  as  the  years  passed,  centers 
of  influence  in  every  city  of  the  United  Kingdom.  In 
1848,  Associations  at  Sheffield,  Bristol,  and  Reading 
were  added  to  the  list.  These  Associations  varied  in 
strength   and   vitality,   in  proportion  to  the  zeal  and 


78  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

genius  of  the  Christian  young  men  of  the  various  com- 
munities, but  on  the  whole  they  were  remarkably  suc- 
cessful. Earnest  men  perceived  that  the  Association 
had  grasped  a  valuable  idea,  and  encouraged  the  young 
men  to  carry  it  out.  These  various  societies  adopted 
rules  similar  to  the  London  constitution,  filed  them  with 
the  parent  Association  to  which  they  sent  reports  for  the 
London  annual  meeting,  in  the  same  way  as  the  metro- 
politan branches.  They  were  called,  in  contrast,  Pro- 
vincial Branches.  By  the  end  of  the  formative  period 
of  the  British  work  (1851),  Associations  had  been  formed 
at  eight  points  in  London,  including  the  original  organ- 
ization, and  in  sixteen  different  cities  in  England, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland. 

The  same  conditions  of  membership  prevail  in  all: 
"Members  must  be  young  men  who  give  decided  evi- 
dence of  conversion  to  God."  Since  1848,  young  men  of 
good  moral  character,  by  the  payment  of  a  small  fee, 
were  allowed  to  become  "  associates,"  with  the  privilege 
of  enjoying  all  the  benefits  of  the  Association,  but  were 
not  allowed  to  vote  or  hold  office.  The  membership  of 
the  "City  Association,"  as  the  original  Association  was 
called,  from  its  location  in  that  part  of  the  metropolis 
called  the  "City,"  shows  a  steady  growth.  Twelve 
young  men  organized  the  Association  in  June,  1844; 
their  number  had  increased  by  November,  to  70 ;  in 
March,  1845,  to  160;  in  November,  1846,  to  200.  After 
this  year,  the  report  is  given  for  the  entire  metropolitan 
district.  In  1847,  ^^^  number  of  members  in  London 
was  380;  in  1848,  the  membership  was  480;  in  1849,  it 
numbered  600 ;  this  includes  the  "  associates,"  who  were 
admitted  to  the  privileges  of  the  Association.  The 
membership  for  1850  has  not  been  recorded,  but  at  the 
close  of  this  period  the  membership  of  the  Central 
Association  alone  numbers  425  "associates"  and  225 
"members,"  a  total  of  650,   and  there  were  probably 


BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION.      79 

1,400  members  and  associates  indentified  with  the  move- 
ment in  Metropolitan  London. 

It  is  difficult  to  learn  definitely  of  the  membership  of 
the  Provincial  Branches.  In  November,  1849,  the  num- 
ber had  reached  520  outside  of  London.  The  Associa- 
tion continued  to  increase  both  in  number  of  organiza- 
tions and  membership  until  by  the  end  of  185 1  the  eight 
London  societies  and  the  16  Provincial  branches,  in  all 
24  Associations,  enrolled  some  2,700  young  men.  By 
1858,  the  total  membership  of  the  United  Kingdom  had 
reached  8,500  "  members  "  and  "  associates  "  in  47  Asso- 
ciations. 

Sec.  13. — Summary  of  the  Results  from  1844-1851. 

Speaking  before  the  Association  in  1853,  Mr.  George 
Hitchcock,  who  was  intimately  acquainted  with  its  work, 
said:  "  This  institution  I  have  always  regarded  with  the 
deepest  sympathy.  I  remember  what  London  was 
when  I  was  a  young  man,  and  the  contrast  now  is  strik- 
ing. Twenty-seven  years  ago  I  came  to  London,  and 
for  some  time  after  that  it  might  be  said  of  the  young 
men  in  London  in  the  shops  and  warehouses,  '  No  man 
cared  for  their  souls,  or  their  bodies  either.'  Young 
men  in  the  large  houses,  for  they  were  worse  than  the 
small  ones,  were  herded  together  ten  to  fifteen  in  a  room 
at  night.  They  were  literally  driven  from  the  shops  to 
their  beds,  and  from  their  beds  to  the  shop,  by  a  person 
called  a  shopwalker.  There  was  no  sitting  room,  no 
social  comfort,  no  library;  they  remained  until  they 
were  taken  ill,  then  they  were  discharged  at  a  moment's 
notice ;  away  they  went,  many  of  them  to  the  workhouse, 
and  numbers  of  them  used  to  die  prematurely.  But 
now  what  a  change  has  taken  place,  and  principally 
through  this  Association  and  that  admirable  institution, 
'  The  Early  Closing  Association.'  I  rejoice  to  say  that 
the  hours  of  business  are  much  shortened,  and  we  know 


80  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

that  there  is  a  very  general  feeling  that  there  is  some- 
thing more  to  be  done  than  laboring  with  the  hands, 
'that  we  go  forth  to  our  labor  until  the  evening,'  and 
that  then  is  the  time  for  mental  improvement  and  for 
social  duties  and  privileges."  In  seven  years,  the  Asso- 
ciation had  revolutionized  public  sentiment  regarding 
the  claims  of  young  men.  It  had  been  one  of  the  chief 
factors  in  shortening  the  hours  of  labor  for  commercial 
young  men.  It  had  influenced  directly  or  indirectly  tens 
of  thousands  of  young  men,  and  led  many  hundreds  to 
become  followers  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  become  mem- 
bers of  his  church. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT. 

Sec.  14. — Preparation  in  the  American  Church. — 

1800-1851. 

We  are  to  turn  our  eyes  to  a  new  theatre  of  action,  a 
land  whicli,  while  it  has  received  from  Europe  its  popu- 
lation, and  its  political,  social,  and  religious  ideas,  has 
nevertheless  developed  a  decided  individuality  of  its 
own.  It  is  in  America  that  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  has  achieved  its  greatest  success.  The 
World's  Committee,  in  the  report  made  at  the  London 
conference  in  1894,  said:  "The  Associations  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada  present  the  picture  of  a  pow- 
erful, active,  and  complete  organization.  They  are  well 
at  the  head  of  our  whole  work,  and  their  influence  is 
felt  far  beyond  the  American  Continent."  ^ 

We  must  study  briefly  the  development  of  the  relig- 
ious forces  of  America,  and  the  industrial  situation,  in 
order  to  understand  the  American  movement.  The 
distinguishing  characteristic  of  American  Christianity  is 
the  freedom  of  the  Church  from  the  State.  So  long  has 
this  been  the  accepted  policy  that  the  subject  in  America 
scarcely  excites  a  passing  interest,  and  yet  it  is  the  great 
contribution  of  America  to  the  history  of  Christianity. 
The  Declaration  of  American  Independence  introduced 
an  entirely  new  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  Church. 
Europe,  with  its  piled  ecclesiastical  traditions,  lay  many 
miles  across  the  sea.     For  the  first  time  since  the  days 

2  "  Fifty  Years'  Work  Among  Young  Men,"  page  11,  English 
Edition  ;  Exeter  Hall,  London,  1894. 


82  }  'O I  ^NG  MEX  \S  CHRISTIA  N  ASSOCIA  TION. 

of  Constantine  the  Church  was  free  to  develop  among  a 
great  people,  unfettered  by  union  with  the  government, 
and  this  time  it  was  to  be  a  free  Church,  protected, in 
its  functions,  not  persecuted  by  a  hostile,  civil  power. 
The  history  of  the  American  Church  previous  to  the  in- 
troduction of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in 
1851  falls  into  three  periods:  (i)  The  Colonial  Period, 
1607  to  1776.  (2)  The  Period  of  Reorganization,  1776 
to  1815.  (3)  The  Period  of  Rapid  Extension  through- 
out the  growing  Republic,  181 5  to  185 1.  It  is  necessary 
to  trace  briefly  the  events  which  are  of  vital  importance 
to  our  subject. 

THE    FOUNDING    OF    THE    AMERICAN     CHURCH     DURING 
THE    COLONIAL     PERIOD. 

Europe  has  furnished  the  elements  from  which  the 
American  Church  has  developed,  but  the  chronological 
order  of  their  introduction  into  the  United  States  has 
been  reversed.  An  analysis  with  reference  to  the 
European  origin  of  the  religious  forces  of  the  United 
States  shows  that  they  spring  from  four  sources:  The 
Old  Roman  Church;  The  Reformation;  The  Puritan 
and  the  Wesleyan  Revivals.  The  Roman  Catholic 
Church  owes  its  present  strength  to  recent  immigration 
from  Ireland  and  Europe.  It  was  not  a  moulding  force 
in  the  founding  of  the  nation,  except  in  one  colony. 

The  second  element  of  American  Christianity  contin- 
ues directlv  the  Protestant  Reformation  of  the  Sixteenth 
century.  The  two  churches  which  stand  directly  for  the 
Reformation  are  the  Episcopal  and  the  Lutheran.  The 
Lutheran,  and  the  kindred  German  bodies,  like  the 
Roman  Church,  owe  their  present  strength  to  more  re- 
cent immigrations.  The  Episcopal  Church,  however, 
was  the  first  introduced  into  America,  and  has  had  a 
continuous  history  since  the  founding  of  the  Jamestown 
Colonv  in  1607.     For  a  century,  the  Church  of  England 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  83 

was  the  dominant  religion  in  the  South.  While  the 
spirit  of  loyalty  to  the  British  Crown  prevailed,  the 
Anglican  Church  nourished  the  religious  life  of  Virginia 
and  the  Southern  Colonies  as  well  as  the  isolated  char- 
acter of  the  wilderness  would  permit.  But  the  Church 
was  poorly  organized,  and  the  sentiment  against  an 
establishment  of  religion  early  developed.  The  Ameri- 
can Cliurch  had  no  Bishop,  but  was  in  close  connection 
with  the  English  establishment  under  the  direction  of 
the  Bishops  of  London.  This  led  it  to  be  regarded  as 
an  ally  of  the  British  government.  The  annals  previous 
to  the  Revolution  are  full  of  struggles  between  the 
people  and  the  rectors  over  their  salaries,  which  were 
raised  by  taxation. 

At  the  close  of  the  colonial  period,  the  Episcopal 
Church  was  in  a  reduced  condition.  It  had  some  fol- 
lowing in  Connecticut  and  New  York,  but  only  three 
mission  stations  in  Pennsylvania.  Outside  of  Virginia 
and  Maryland,  it  was  supported  as  a  mission  under  the 
British  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel.  "  In 
the  South,  there  had  been  a  distinct  retrogression.  Even 
in  faithful  old  Virginia  dissenters  were  two  to  one.  The 
result  of  the  fatal  breach  between  clergy  and  people 
had  already  appeared.  Church  buildings  were  falling 
into  neglect ;  many  of  the  clergy  had  withdrawn,  *  * 
'•'  while  further  south  the  condition  was  no  better."  ^ 
The  Episcopal  Church  was  still  further  shattered  by 
the  Revolution.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  there 
were  only  90  clergymen  in  Virginia,  and  at  its  close 
there  were  28;  in  1812,  only  13  could  be  rallied  to  at- 
tend the  first  convention.  ^  The  Church  was  also 
weakened  by  being  wantonly  deprived  of  its  en- 
dowments by  disestablishment.  It  was  not  until 
about   1835  that  the  Episcopal  Church  became  again 

^  McConneH's  History  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church,  p.  1S2. 
*  McConuell's  History  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church,  p.  288. 


84  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

a  vigorous  factor  in  the  religious  life  of  the  United 
States.  It  was  one  of  the  chief  forces  in  introducing 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  produced 
the  leader  of  the  American  movement  during  the  first 
period  of  its  history. 

The  third  and  chief  source  from  which  America  drew 
her  religious  life  was  the  great  Puritan  movement  of 
the  17th  century.  The  lineal  descendants  of  this  Puri- 
tan revival  are  the  Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists. 
The  Baptists,  who  were  also  earnest  in  advocating  sep- 
aration between  the  civil  and  religious  powers,  and  the 
doctrine  that  the  Church  should  be  composed  only  of 
believers,  as  a  movement  among  English-speaking  peo- 
ple, date  their  origin  from  the  same  period  as  the  Puri- 
tans. They  accepted  the  Westminster  confession  with 
modifications  of  the  statements  regarding  baptism  and 
the  sacraments.  In  Virginia  they  were  especially  active 
in  the  movement  led  by  Thomas  Jefferson  against  the 
Establishment.  They  were  represented  in  all  sections 
of  the  Union.  The  Presbyterians  were  especially  strong 
in  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  The  type  of  piety,  the. 
conception  of  the  Bible,  of  education,  of  freedom  of 
conscience,  of  the  Sabbath,  of  sin,  of  the  relation  of  the 
Church  to  the  State,  which  prevailed  at  the  founding 
of  the  nation,  were  the  outgrowth  of  the  Puritan  move- 
ment of  the  seventeenth  century. 

The  fourth  division  of  the  American  Church  has  come 
from  the  impulse  to  spiritual  life  given  by  the  Wesleyan 
revival  in  Great  Britain  during  the  i8th  century. 
America  has  seen  the  greatest  successes  of  Methodism. 
No  other  denomination  has  made  such  rapid  progress, 
or  shown  more  zeal  for  the  elevation  and  enlightenment 
of  the  masses  of  the  people.  But  this  body  of  Chris- 
tians who  were  to  become  the  leading  division  of 
American  Protestants  were  hardly  a  determining  factor 
at  the  beginning  of  the  nation's  history.    The  teachings 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  85 

of  Wesley  produced  a  deep  impression  in  the  colonies, 
but  Methodism  was  not  yet  an  organized  force.  The  first 
meeting-house  of  logs  was  built  in  the  woods  of  Mary- 
land in  1764,^  and  in  1773  the  converts  to  Methodism 
numbered  only  1,160.  Fifteen  years  later,  in  1784,  the 
Methodist  Church  was  episcopally  organized  with 
14,983  members,  four-fifths  of  whom  were  in  Maryland. 
With  'the  founding  of  the  new  republic,  the  Methodist 
Church  set  out  on  its  great  mission. 

I  have  given  this  brief  summary  of  the  early  ori- 
gin of  the  American  Church  because  this  division  of 
the  people,  among  so  many  of  the  ecclesiastical  organi- 
zations, was  the  determining  factor  at  the  beginning  of 
the  next  period  in  freeing  the  Church  from  union  with 
the  government. 

The  second  characteristic  of  the  colonial  period  was 
the  "  Great  Awakening,"  under  the  leadership  of  Jona- 
than Edwards  and  George  Whitfield,  which  stirred  the 
entire  nation.  Beginning  under  the  preaching  of  Ed- 
wards at  Northampton,  Mass.,  in  1734,  the  revival  spread 
south  with  wonderful  power,  till  it  reached  Georgia, 
where  Whitfield  was  engaged  in  establishing  an  Orphan- 
age, with  funds  gathered  mostly  in  England.  Under  the 
impulse  of  his  marvellous  eloquence  and  devotion,  the 
revival  received  new  vigor.  He  traveled  north,  preach- 
ing and  exhorting  in  all  the  colonies.  This  movement, 
commonly  known  as  the  "  Great  Awakening,"  lasted 
until  the  Revolution,  and  even  longer.  It  is  of  great  im- 
portance to  our  subject,  because  to  it  can  be  traced  one 
of  the  leading  characteristics  of  American  Christianity.'^ 
Without  much  regard  to  Calvanistic  or  Arminian 
conception  of  theology,  the  "Great  Awakening" 
agreed  with  John  Wesley  in  teaching  the  possibility 

'•"  McTyiere's  "  History  of  Methodism,"  p.  253. 

'■  McConnell's  Histon'-  of  American  Episcopal  Church,  pp.  136- 
146;  Fisher's  Historj'  of  the  Christian  Church,  pp.  524-527. 


86  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

of  the  immediate  conversion  of  sinners,  and  that  a 
Christian  may  know  at  once,  by  an  inner  experience, 
that  he  is  accepted  of  God.  It  may  be  called  the  coun- 
terpart of  the  Wesley  an  revival  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Atlantic.  This  conception  of  conversion  became  char- 
acteristic of  American  Christianity.  It  has  developed 
the  evangelistic  and  missionary  spirit,  which  is  one  of 
the  leading  features  of  the  American  Church,  and  which 
was  a  necessary  preparation  for  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association.  The  Association  in  America  is  an 
evangelistic  agency  which  aims  to  win  young  men  to 
yield  their  lives  to  Jesus  Christ.  The  "Great  Awaken- 
ing" prepared  the  American  Church  to  welcome  and 
support  such  an  enterprise.  It  was  this  great  revival 
which  fortified  the  Church  to  meet  the  tide  of  irreligion 
and  immorality  which  came  with  the  Revolution  and 
the  opening  years  of  the  republic.  The  two  features  of 
the  colonial  period  which  are  of  importance  to  our 
theme  were  the  founding  of  the  different  denomina- 
tions, and  the  development  of  the  evangelistic  spirit  by 
the  "  Great  Awakening." 

THE   PERIOD   OF   REORGANIZATION,    1776-1815. 

War  has  often  ushered  in  a  decline  in  spiritual  life. 
This  was  sadly  true  in  America.  The  second  period  of 
American  history  is  marked  by  irreligion  and  infidelity 
almost  as  pronounced  as  that  which  prevailed  in  Eu- 
rope. The  rigid  standard  of  morals  of  the  early  Puri- 
tans degenerated.  Party  strife  was  as  bitter  as  in  the 
declining  days  of  Greece  or  Poland.  Slavery  was  grow- 
ing in  the  South,  "  drunkenness  threatened  to  debauch 
the  nation."  "  In  the  Western  States  whiskey  was  the 
only  currency  used.  In  1814,  there  were  1,400  distil- 
leries in  the  country,  producing  two  and  a  half  gal- 
lons of  raw  spirits  annually  for  every  person  in  the  pop- 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT,  87 

ulation."  ^  The  days  of  Christianity  were  thought  to  be 
numbered,  and  the  "Age  of  Reason"  to  be  at  hand.  Polit- 
ical alliance  and  sympathy  with  France  brought  in  infi- 
delity, and  associated  the  ideas  of  liberty,  equality,  and 
free  institutions  with  unbelief  and  irreligion.  There  was 
danger  that  the  Church,  the  great  conserver  of  self-mast- 
ery in  the  individual,  would  be  paralyzed  at  just  the  mo- 
ment when  the  inauguration  of  free  institutions  demand- 
ed self-poise  and  self-control  in  the  mass  of  the  people. 

The  leading  event  in  the  history  of  the  Church  at 
this  period  was  the  culmination  of  the  movement  which 
had  been  developing  for  a  century  in  favor  of  the  sep- 
aration of  the  civil  and  religious  powers.  This  senti- 
ment had  grown  with  the  growth  of  republican  ideas. 
The  irreligion  of  the  day  allied  itself  to  the  anti-estab- 
lishment party  in  demanding  the  separation  of  the 
Church  from  the  State.  The  anti-establishment  move- 
ment succeeded  in  Virginia  in  1784.  The  leading  fac- 
tor, however,  in  accomplishing  separation,  was  not 
irreligion,  but  the  division  of  the  population  among  so 
many  different  denominations.  "  The  convention  of 
patriots,  who  framed  the  Federal  Constitution  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1787,  were  sacredly  bound  by  every  consid- 
eration of  justice  and  regard  to  the  rights  of  the  various 
States  and  religious  parties  represented  by  them,  to  pro- 
claim liberty  of  religion  and  its  public  exercise.  This 
could  not  be  done  without  a  com.plete  separation  of 
Church  and  State."  « 

The  separation  of  the  Church  from  the  State  has  de- 
veloped several  features  of  American  religious  life  that 
are  of  great  importance  to  our  subject.  The  indepen- 
dence of  the  Church  involved  self-support,  self-govern- 
ment, and  the  organization  of  the  Church  as  a  body  of 

"  McConnell's  History  of  American  Episcopal  Church,  p.  279. 

«  Elliotts'  Debate,  Vol.  III.,  p.  330,  quoted  by  Philip  Schaff, 
Evangelical  Alliance  Report  for  1857,  p.  569. 


88  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 

believers,  distinct  from  unbelievers.  It  is  impossible  to 
adequately  discuss  here  the  influence  which  these  prin- 
ciples had  upon  American  Christianity  as  it  has  devel- 
oped during  the  succeeding  seventy-five  years.  The 
first  result  during  the  period  of  reorganization  was  the 
awakening  of  laymen  to  activity  in  Christian  work. 
Self-government,  and,  above  all,  self-support,  compelled 
the  Church  to  lean  more  and  more  upon  laymen  in  ful- 
filling her  mission.  The  means  for  the  support  of 
religion,  and  the  advancement  of  all  religious  enter- 
prises were  no  longer  raised  by  taxation,  but  the  Church 
now  rested  on  the  loyalty  of  its  members.  This  sys- 
tem of  voluntary  support  has  been  eminently  successful. 
To  this  training  is  due  the  benevolence  and  generous 
giving  in  America  which  has  often  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  Europeans.  Art  galleries,  universities,  and 
churches  are  built  and  maintained,  not  by  the  State  or 
royalty,  but  by  private  munificence  or  general  contribu- 
tions. A  variety  of  influences  have  contributed  to  in- 
crease lay  activity  in  Christian  work  during  this  century 
all  over  the  Protestant  world.  This  century  has  been 
characterized  by  the  establishment  of  lay  agencies  for 
extending  the  Kingdom  of  Christ.  From  the  German 
Inner  Mission  and  the  myriad  organized  agencies  of 
Great  Britain  to  the  wonderful  lay  societies  of  Amer- 
ica, the  layman  is  a  recognized  religious  power. 
The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  is  a  purely 
lay  organization,  and  without  this  awakening  of  lay- 
men to  Christian  service  would  have  been  an  im- 
possibility. Laymen  have  become  a  more  important 
factor  in  the  activities  of  the  Church  throughout  Amer- 
ica than  in  any  other  land,  and  this  is  one  of  the  chief 
causes  for  the  greater  success  of  the  American  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association. 

The  separation  of  the  Church   from  the  civil  power 
also  involved  the  organization  of  the  Church  as  a  body 


THE  AI\[ERICAN  MOVEMENT.  89 

of  believers  distinct  from  unbelievers.  This  was  of  im- 
mense advantage.  It  limited  church  membership  to 
converted  men,  and  enabled  the  Church  to  fulfill  its 
mission  of  bearing  witness  to  what  it  believed  to  be  the 
truth.  The  separation  of  believers  from  unbelievers 
greatly  stimulated  the  evangelistic  spirit,  which  was  the 
most  precious  legacy  from  the  preceding  period.  In 
Europe,  the  basis  of  church  membership  is  not  conver- 
sion, and  a  public  profession  of  faith  in  Christ  but  birth 
and  baptism  under  a  Christian  government.  In  Amer- 
ica the  conditions  of  fellowship  are  baptism  and  a  pub- 
lic, profession  of  faith  in  Jesus  Christ.  This  separation 
of  the  converted  from  the  unconverted  has  proven  a 
constant  reminder  to  the  Church  of  its  evangelistic 
mission.  It  has  confirmed  the  evangelistic  character  of 
American  Christianity.' 

The  second  characteristic  of  this  period  ( 1876-1815) 
was  the  necessary  organization  of  the  churches  on  the 
basis  of  the  new  relation  to  the  government.  The  Pres- 
byterians and  Baptists  had  never  been  connected  with  the 
State,  and  were  already  organized  and  ready  to  push  for- 
ward and  occupy  the  field  as  population  moved  westward. 
This  in  a  measure  explains  the  rapid  development  of 
these  two  denominations.  The  Methodists  were  swift 
to  follow  in  their  footsteps  and  soon  outstripped  them 
both.  The  Episcopalians  and  tbe  Congregationalists 
were  slow  to  accept  the  new  situation,  and  thus  lost  this 
first  opportunity  for  rapid  advancement.  The  Episco- 
pal Church  was  the  first  to  organize,  but  it  was  deprived 
of  its  resources  by  disestablishment,  and  had  to 
face  the  hostility  of  the  supposed  sympathy  of  its 
clergy  with  the  Tory  party.  The  Congregationalists, 
while  jK)pular  from  their  loyal  support  of  the  patriot 
cause,  and  their  influence  in  moulding  the  new  na- 
tion, were  hardly  organized  at  all,  and  were  slow  to  ad- 
vance as  an  organization  into  the  growing  West,  while 


90  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

they  gave  the  most  liberally  of  all  of  men  and  money. 
As  a  church,  they  can  hardly  be  said  to  have  had  a  na- 
tional organization  previous  to  the  calling  of  the  Na- 
tional Council  of  1865. 

The  third  characteristic  of  this  period,  which  has 
prevailed  during  all  the  succeeding  history  of  the  na- 
tion, is  the  systematic  efforts  of  the  reorganized 
churches  to  establish  themselves  among  the  population 
which  moved  westward.  This  movement  at  first  fos- 
tered denominational  rivalry,  but  it  did  much  to  stimu- 
late evangelistic  zeal.  It  prevented  the  localizing  of 
denominations,  as  had  been  done  in  the  colonial  period, 
and  so  in  the  end  promoted  denominational  fellowship 
and  intercourse.  There  is  no  section  of  America,  ex- 
cept New  England,  where  the  Congregationalists  still 
predominate,  where  any  one  denomination  so  outnum- 
bers the  others  as  to  justify  pretentions  to  superiority. 
Tolerance  was  a  natural  development  of  the  separation 
of  the  Church  from  the  State.  The  Church  emerged 
from  the  second  period  of  40  years  fully  organized,  un- 
der the  new  condition  of  freedom  from  government 
control,  able  to  support  itself,  a  self-governed  body  of 
believers,  and  a  witness  for  Christ  in  the  world.  The 
Church  had  two  marked  characteristics  which  are  es- 
pecially important  to  our  theme.  The  first  was  a  vig- 
orous evangelistic  spirit,  the  outgrowth  of  the  "  Great 
Awakening,"  strongly  intensified  by  the  organizing  of 
congregations  of  believers  as  distinct  from  the  uncon- 
verted, and  by  the  missionary  effort  to  evangelize  the 
West.  The  second  was  the  awakened  interest  of  the 
laity,  and  their  increased  prominence  in  the  affairs  of 
the  Church.  The  American  Church  in  18 15  was  a 
growing  power  in  the  midst  of  a  period  of  ii*religion 
which  prevailed  widely  over  war-stricken  Protestantism, 
and  in  the  face  of  the  serious  problems  of  slavery  and  a 
rapidly  developing  nation. 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  91 

THE   PERIOD   OF   RAPID   EXTENSION. 

The  period  from  1815  to  1851  in  the  United  States 
was  one  of  tremendous  religious  activity.  The  Church 
arose  in  its  might  to  make  the  growing  nation  Chris- 
tian, and  to  perpetuate  the  Puritan  and  Wesleyan  con- 
ception of  Christianity.  As  population  moved  west- 
ward and  occupied  the  vast  domain  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  the  Church  and  school  were  founded  in  ever>' 
settlement.  The  powerful  stimulus  to  business  en- 
terprise, aroused  by  the  appropriating  of  a  new  country, 
quickened  also  religious  activity.  The  rapidly  ac- 
cumulated wealth  of  Christian  farmers,  merchants,  and 
manufacturers  flowed  into  the  coffers  of  the  Church  in 
a  way  that  satisfied  everyone  of  the  wisdom  of  the  sys- 
tem of  voluntary  support.  Scores  of  colleges  and  theo- 
losfical  seminaries  were  established  in  both  the  old  and 
new  States.  Church  buildings*  were  erected  in  large 
numbers  and  of  more  pretentious  and  beautiful  struc- 
ture. This  period  of  expansion  is  seen  in  all  of  the 
denominations.  Numbers  were  added  to  church  mem- 
bership which  year  by  year  has  enrolled  a  greater  pro- 
portion of  the  total  population.  The  great  external 
characteristics  of  the  third  period  are  : 

The  march  of  the  Church  westward  with  the  pioneer 
population. 

The  great  increase  in  the  numbers  of  the  communi- 
cants, ministers,  church  buildings,  church  organiza- 
tions, and  financial  resources. 

The  entrance  of  Roman  Catholicism  on  a  large  scale 
on  the  wave  of  the  new  European  and  Irish  immigra- 
tion. 

The  division  of  the  denominations  which  had  large 
numbers  of  communicants  in  both  the  North  and  the 
South  into  separate  bodies  on  account  of  slavery. 

The  feature  of  this  period  of  chief  interest  to  our 


92  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

subject  was  the  formation  of  the  great  lay  societies  of 
the  Church.  The  different  denominations  now  began 
to  establish,  or  to  render  really  vigorous,  both  their 
own  denominational  boards  and  interdenominational 
organizations. 

As  early  as  1801,  the  Congregationalists  and  Presby- 
terians entered  into  a  "  plan  of  union  "  for  the  planting 
of  churches  in  western  New  York  and  Ohio.  This  de- 
veloped into  the  Home  Missionary  Societies  of  the  two 
denominations  in  1826.  Each  of  the  large  denomina- 
tions soon  founded  agencies  for  extending  their  sys- 
tems into  the  rapidly  growing  West.  In  1850,  there 
were  ten  Home  Missionary  Societies  in  the  United 
States,  which  received  annual  contributions  to  the 
amount  of  $433,090,  and  which  supported  2,675  mis- 
sionaries in  newly-settled  communities. 

The  foreign  missionary  movement  began  toward  the 
close  of  the  previous  peiriod  by  the  organization  of  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions 
in  1810.  This  was  supported  at  first  by  several  denom- 
inations, but  gradually  came  to  be  the  agent  of  the 
Congregationalists.  It  rapidly  became  the  policy  for 
each  denomination  to  have  its  own  Foreign  Missionary 
vSociety.  In  1850,  there  were  14  Foreign  Missionary  So- 
cieties in  the  United  States,  receiving  annually  ^666,360. 
In  addition  to  these  24  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary 
Societies,  there  were  a  number  of  other  denominational 
agencies  for  the  education  of  young  men  for  the  minis- 
try, and  for  founding  Sunday  Schools. 

The  attempt  to  inaugurate  Home  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sion work  on  an  interdenominational  basis,  made  in 
1801  and  1810,  failed,  partly  on  account  of  the  nature 
of  the  enterprises  and  partly  on  account  of  jealousy 
between  denominations.  But  with  the  beginning  of 
the  third  period,  the  willingness  of  Christians  of  differ- 
ent denominations  to  unite   in   carrying  on  work  of  a 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  93 

general  character  began  to  increase.  In  1816,  the 
American  Bible  Society  was  established  to  circulate  the 
Bible  without  comment,  both  at  home  and  in  foreign 
lands.  This  society  received  hearty  support  from 
Christians  of  all  creeds.  In  34  years  it  had  distributed 
nearly  seven  million  copies  of  the  Bible  or  New  Testa- 
ments.    In  1850,  its  annual  income  was  $284,000. 

The  American  Tract  Society,  for  the  circulation  of 
Christian  literature,  was  founded  on  a  similar  basis  in 
1824,  and  at  the  end  of  26  years  was  receiving  $308,000 
annually  for  the  distribution  of  Christian  literature. 
One  of  the  greatest  of  these  agencies  was  the  American 
Sunday  School  Union  in  connection  with  the  various 
churches  throughout  the  nation.  This  society  marvel- 
lously stimulated  lay  activity.  Its  income  in  1850  was 
$259,900.  In  1 850  these  three  great  interdenominational 
agencies,  with  several  others  for  similar  purposes, 
according  to  the  report  made  to  the  Conference  of  the 
Evangelical  Alliance  held  at  London  in  185 1,  were 
receiving  over  $850,000  annually  in  voluntary  contribu- 
tions from  Christians  of  all  evangelical  churches.  In 
addition  to  forming  these  societies,  Christians  began  to 
unite  in  a  great  variety  of  benevolent  enterprises.  Anti- 
slavery  and  colonization  societies,  temperance  organiza- 
tions, and  union  evangelistic  service  were  powerful 
influences  in  drawing  Christians  together.  In  1846, 
with  evangelical  believers  of  all  lands,  the  American 
Church  united  in  forming  the  Evangelical  Alliance, 
which  had  for  its  object  the  establishment  of  a  bond  of 
union  between  Protestants  of  every  nation  and  every 
tongue. 

The  rapid  development  of  the  Sunday  School,  which 
rallied  the  young  people  under  th^  instruction  of  Chris- 
tian laymen,  did  much  to  familiarize  laymen  with 
methods  of  Christian  work,  and  with  the  value  of  organ- 
ized effort.     In  1851,  there  were  '*  2,000,000  of  children, 


94  }  'OUNC  MEN 'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOC  I  A  TION. 

youths  and  adults  in  the  Sunday  Schools  of  the  United 
States,  taught  by  more  than  200,000  teachers,  among 
whom  were  members  of  Congress  and  of  State  Legisla- 
ture, judges,  laymen,  mayors  of  cities,  and  other  magis- 
trates/' •'  The  Methodist  Church,  by  its  system  of  "local 
preachers,"  did  much  to  promote  lay  preaching,  while  the 
development  of  the  prayer  meeting  familiarized  the 
whole  Church  with  Christian  work  by  laymen.  This 
organizing  of  the  energy  of  the  lay  element  of  the 
Church  permeated  American  life  with  vital  Christianity. 

The  separation  of  Church  and  State,  the  decadence 
of  doctrinal  disputes,  the  absorption  in  practical  effort 
had  wrought  mightily  to  weld  American  Christianity 
into  one  homogeneous  whole,  which  all  the  rivalry  for 
supremacy,  the  clashing  of  interests  in  new  settlements, 
the  bitterness  over  slavery,  and  the  devotion  to  tradi- 
tional watch-words  handed  down  from  European  strug- 
gles of  former  centuries,  could  not  stifle.  A  breadth  of 
view  and  warmth  of  heart  began  to  permeate  American 
Church  life.  On  the  broad  platform  of  the  Bible  and 
Tract  Societies,  the  Sunday  School  Union,  and  a  multi- 
tude of  benevolent  organizations,  American  Christians 
met  side  by  side.  Union  became  popular  ;  ministers  of 
different  denominations  exchanged  pulpits,  and  congre- 
gations of  different  churches  united  in  evangelistic  ser- 
vices. The  revival  spirit,  which,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Charles  Finney,  awoke  to  new  life,  did  much  to 
draw  the  churches  into  harmonious  relations. 

With  the  increased  activity  of  laymen,  the  desire  for 
unity  grew  stronger,  year  by  year,  and  while 
party  differences  still  prevailed,  often  bitterly,  the 
Evangelical  Churches  of  America  in  1851  looked  upon 
each  other  as  standing  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  a  com- 
mon cause.  At  the  close  of  the  third  period  of  Ameri- 
can   Christianity,    when   the   Young    Men's    Christian 

"  Report  Evangelical  Alliance  for  185 1,  p  610. 


THE  ami:rican  MOJ'EMENT. 


95 


Association  was  about  to  begin  its  role  in  America,  the 
religious  character  and  institutions  of  the  new  nation 
had  become  clearly  defined,  and  the  general  direction 
of  religious  effort  determined. 

The  religious  forces  were  organized  into  the  denomi- 
nations already  mentioned.  Their  numerical  strength 
may  be  seen  in  the  following  table  : 


MINISTERS. 


1800     1850 


CONGREGA- 
TIONS. 


1800       1850 


COMMUNICANTS. 


1800  1850 


Congregationalists 

Presbyterians 

Baptists ■. 

Methodists 

Episcopalians 

German  Churches 

Evangelical 

Other  Denominations. 


300 


260 


1,687 
4,578 
8,018 
6,000 

1.504 
1,827 


500 
1. 150 


1,971 

5,672  |4o,ooo 

13-455  65,000 


320 


30,000 
1,550 
5,356 


300 


40,000 
16,000 


197,196 

490,259 

948,867 

1,250,000 

73,000 

333,000 


Totals. 


23,514 


58,304 


3,292,322 


The  two  leading  groups  are  (i)  the  Methodist  denomi- 
nation, which  was  distributed  over  the  whole  nation  in 
some  30,000  different  congregations,  enrolling  1,250,000 
communicants  and  ministered  unto  by  9,000  lay 
preachers,  in  addition  to  6,000  ordained  ministers ;  (2) 
the  Puritan  and  Baptist  group,  which  sprang  from  the 
non-conformist  movement  in  England  in  the  17th 
century,  represented  by  the  Congregationalists,  Presby- 
terians and  Baptists.  This  second  group  enrolled  some 
20,600  churches,  under  the  supervision  of  14,200  pastors, 
with  some  1,640,000  members. 

In  1850,  in  a  population  of  23,225,000  people,  Ameri- 
can Evangelical  Christianity  presented  the  picture  of  a 
group  of  voluntary,  self-governing  ecclesiastical  organi- 


96  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

zations,  which  had  rallied  some  3,300,000  communicants 
into  58,000  different  congregations,  scattered  broadcast 
over  the  new  Republic  and  fostered  by  the  ministrations 
of  some  23,000  preachers  of  the  Gospel.  Some  indica- 
tion of  the  result  of  self-support  may  be  gathered  from 
the  fact  that  in  1850  the  sum  of  $7,700,000  was  voluntarily 
contributed  for  the  support  of  these  churches,  $3,000,000 
additional  for  church  building,  and  a  sum  of  $2,150,000 
for  the  support  of  the  various  denominational  and  inter- 
denominational societies  alr^dy  mentioned.  Resting 
on  this  ecclesiastical  foundation,  laid  during  the  two 
and  a  half  centuries  of  its  history,  American  Christianity 
had  developed  four  characteristics,  which  were  a  neces- 
sary preparation  for  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion : 

1.  Evangelistic  zeal  which  sought  to  win  each  indi- 
vidual to  personal  alliance  to  Jesus  Christ. 

2.  Lay  activity,  by  means  of  which  laymen  had  be- 
come a  great  factor  in  the  direct  work  of  preaching  the 
Gospel  and  in  directing  the  agencies  of  the  Church. 

3.  A  faculty  for  organization,  which  had  created  not 
only  the  great  national  societies,  but  reached  also  to  the 
details  in  the  life  of  the  local  churches. 

4.  An  increasing  spirit  of  harmony  between  denomi- 
nations, which  manifested  itself  in  fellowship  and  in 
union  for  specific  objects. 

Here  were  the  forces  to  give  the  impetus  to  a  new 
movement.  Without  spiritual  power,  without  practical 
organizing  ability,  without  a  willingness  among  Chris- 
tians of  different  creeds  to  unite  in  practical  effort,  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  could  not  have  been 
established.  Dr.  Charles  Hase,  of  Jena,  writing  at  the 
close  of  this  period  (1853),  said:  "The  Puritan  and 
Methodist  elements  have  been  especially  attracted  to 
America  and  have  become  prominent  in  the  national 
character.     The  zeal  engendered  by  an  earnest  Chris- 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  97 

tianity  thrown  into  powerful  conflict  with  the  world  has 
led  its  friends  to  an  intense  use  of  ordinary  and  extraor- 
dinary means  for  the  conversion  of  men,  and  the 
religious  revivals,  which  have  sometimes  been  witnessed 
in  other  lands,  have  here  become  frequent."  ^  ^ 

Sec.  15. — The  Industrial  Situation. 

We  have  seen  the  development  of  the  religious  forces 
in  the  United  States,  which  were  ready  to  establish  and 
maintain  any  institution  needed  to  advance  the  cause  of 
the  Gospel.  We  turn  now  to  look  at  the  actual  condi- 
tions surrounding  the  life  of  young  men,  which 
have  made  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in 
America  necessary.  The  occasion  is  the  same  as  in 
England :  the  growth  of  cities.  We  have  already 
alluded  to  the  decadence  of  morality  which  followed 
the  Revolutionary  War.  The  breaking  up  of  the  old 
relation  to  England,  the  expansion  to  the  new  West, 
the  intoxication  of  founding  a  new  government,  and 
the  rapid  growth  of  wealth  disturbed  the  self-controlled 
movement  of  society.  The  more  settled  East  never 
really  yielded  to  laxity  of  morals.  But  in  the  West, 
while  government  and  order  were  being  established, 
gambling,  drunkenness,  licentiousness,  robbery  and 
sometimes  murder  threatened  to  overturn  the  new  States 
before  they  could  be  formed.  The  steamboats  which 
plied  the  great  lakes,  the  Mississippi  River  and  the 
Ohio,  were  the  haunts  of  gamblers  and  thieves,  who, 
while  less  violent  to  the  person,  were  as  ruthless  as 
the  highwayman  in  the  days  of  Robin  Hood. 

Slavery  in  the  South,  Indian  warfare,  and  the  hardly 
less  demoralizing  Indian  trading  in  the  North,  and,  with 
it  all,  the  isolation  of  pioneer  life,  stifled  the  relig- 
ious aspiration  of  the  people.     Young  men,  then,  as  to- 

1''  "  History  of  the  Christian  Church,"  Ch.  Hase,  translated  by 
C.  E.  Blumenthal,  p.  601,  New  York,  1886. 


98  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

day,  were  the  adventurous  leaders  in  the  march  west- 
ward, and  faced  all  the  peril  to  their  moral  and  higher 
life  which  these  rude  surroundings  entailed.  This  ad- 
vance westward,  headed  by  young  men,  has  continued 
through  all  the  subsequent  history  of  the  United  States, 
until  the  Rocky  Mountains  have  been  crossed,  the 
Pacific  coast  settled,  and  the  East  and  West  connected 
with  lines  of  railway.  This  filling  of  the  West  with 
the  young,  leaving  the  older  portion  of  the  population 
in  the  East,  necessarily  forced  young  men  to  the  front 
and  into  prominent  business,  political  and  social  posi- 
tions. It  led  society  to  trust  important  enterprises  to 
young  men,  and  in  a  measure  accounts  for  that  readi- 
ness to  lead,  and  that  courage  in  the  face  of  responsi- 
bility often  seen  in  young  men  in  America. 

While  in  Massachusetts  and  some  of  the  southern 
States  women  outnumber  men,  the  West  has  always  had 
a  large  majority  of  men.  In  the  lumber  regions  of 
northern  Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  it  was  estimated 
that  in  1887  there  were  80,000  more  men  than  women, 
most  of  whom  were  young  and  unmarried,  exposed  to 
all  the  demoralizing  influences  of  camp  and  frontier 
life.  The  vital  statistics  of  Wyoming,  Idaho,  Montana 
and  Colorado  show  the  same  great  preponderance  of 
males.  Over  60  per  cent,  of  the  immigrants  from 
Europe  to  America  are  males,  and  the  large  proportion 
of  these  are  young  men.  ^^  The  census  for  1890  showed 
377,000  married  men  in  America  whose  families  were 
still  in  Europe. 

The  first  pioneer  march  westward  was  rapidly  followed 
by  an  agricultural  period,  in  which  the  forests  were 
felled  and  the  prairies  brought  under  cultivation.  In 
an  incredibly  short  time,  the  whole  region,  from  the 
Allegheny    Mountains   to   the   Mississippi,    assumed  a 

^  1  See  article  on  "  The  Census  of  Sex,  Marriage  and  Divorce,"  in 
"  Forum  "  for  June,  1884,  by  C.  D.  Wright. 


THE  AMERICAN  MO  J  'EMEN  T.  99 

settled  aspect.  The  canal  system  was  extended  to  Ohio 
in  1825.  ^"1  the  year  1829,  the  railroad  was  introduced, 
and  the  industrial  revolution,  which  began  in  England 
with  the  invention  of  the  steam  engine,  in  1793,  com- 
menced in  the  United  States.  All  the  internal  condi- 
tions of  the  United  States  were  completely  altered  by 
the  railroad  and  the  use  of  coal  in  the  manufacture  of 
iron  introduced  in  1837.  The  period  1830  to  1840  marks 
the  entrance  of  modern  American  conditions.  At  its 
beginning,  the  country  was  an  overgrown  type  of 
colonial  life  ;  at  its  end,  American  life  had  been  shifted 
to  entirely  new  lines,  which  it  has  since  followed.^ 
The  Agricultural  Period,  which  closed  with  1830,  has  been 
followed  by  an  industrial  era,  in  which  the  cities 
have  grown  to  contain  half  the  wealth  and  18,000,000 
people  out  of  a  population  of  62,000,000  (1890). 

It  is  a  striking  sociological  fact  that  although  the 
density  of  population  in  the  United  States  is  only  21  to 
the  square  mile  (1890),  while  in  France  it  is  187 ;  in 
Germany,  221  ;  in  England,  498,  still  the  movement 
from  the  country  to  the  city  has  become  as  pronounced 
in  America  as  in  Europe.  The  millions  of  acres  of 
cheap  public  lands,  the  homestead  privileges,  the  fact 
that  only  one-sixth  of  the  land  is  under  cultivation,  did 
n#t  prevent,  between  1880  and  1890,  the  stagnation  or 
decline  of  the  rural  population  in  over  10,000  out  of  the 
25,700  townships  in  the  United  States.  ^ 

In  1834,  McCormick,  by  the  invention  of  the  reaper, 
began  the  long  list  of  agricultural  inventions  which 
have  made  it  possible  for  an  ever-diminishing  propor- 
tion of  agricultural  laborers  to  feed  the  cities  of  the 
world.  These  inventions  have  stimulated  the  concen- 
tration of  vast  sections  of  American  farm  land  under 
single  managements,  until  *'  one  farmer,  like  Dr.  Glyn, 

'  Britannica  "History  of  the  United  States." 
*  "  New  Era,"  Josiah  Strong,  p.  167. 


100         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

of  California,  or  Mr,  Dalrymple,  of  Dakota,  with  a  field 
of  wheat  covering  a  hundred  square  miles,  can  raise  as 
much  grain  with  400  farm  servants  as  5,000  peasant 
proprietors  in  France  can  by  old  methods."  ^ 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  enter  into  a  detailed  discus- 
sion of  the  growth  of  American  cities.^  The  facts 
to  be  observed  are  that  the  same  movement  of  popu- 
lation from  the  country  to  the  city,  found  in  Europe, 
obtains  in  America  even  to  an  accelerated  degree,  that 
this  movement  was  pronounced  in  1851,  and  that  it  was 
the  occasion  for  establishing  the  American  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association. 

In  1790,  Philadelphia  had  42,000  people  ;  New  York, 
33,000;  Boston,  18,000,  and  Baltimore,  13,000.  By  1830, 
while  the  whole  population  had  increased  ^  less 
than  fourfold,  the  city  population  increased  13-fold 
and  contained  6.3  per  cent,  of  the  total  population. 
By  1850,  the  proportion  of  the  population  in  cities 
was  already  i2>^  per  cent,  out  of  a  total  of  23,- 
200,000  people.  The  increasing  power  of  the  city 
is  seen  from  the  place  of  manufacture  in  the  nation. 
There  were  already  120,855  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, employing  944,100  persons.  The  manufactured 
product  was  estimated  at  $1,013,000,000,  as  compared 
with  a  total  agricultural  product  of  $1,600,000,000.  ^ 
The  current  of  population  was  already  flowing  from  the 
country  to  the  city  in  1851. 

The  first  characteristic  of  American  cities  to  be 
noticed  is  their  abnormally  large  proportion  of  young 
men. ''     Young  men   form  an  undue  proportion  of  the 

'  Ivoomis'  "Modern  Cities,"  p.  51. 

*  See  Josiah  Strong's  "  Our  Country,"  Revised  Edition,  and 
" The  New  Era;  "  Samuel  Loomis'  " Modern  Cities." 

*  "Our  Country,"  p.  179. 

^  Report  of  Evangelical  Alliance,  1855,  p.  77. 

*  See  Sec.  7,  on  British  Cities. 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  101 

army  which  marches  annually  from  the  country  and 
village  to  the  city.  Cleveland,  out  of  a  population 
of  149,000  males  (1892),  had  60,000  young  men 
between  the  ages  of  15  and  36  years, — 20  per  cent, 
of  the  entire  population.  The  general  average  for 
the  population  of  the  entire  country  is  14  per  cent. 
(1890  Census).  An  examination  of  the  reports  made  by 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  in  a  large  num- 
ber of  American  cities,  varying  from  8,000  to  1,800,000 
inhabitants,  reveals  two  interesting  and  significant 
sociological  laws  regarding  American  young  men  :  i . 
A  decided  tendency  on  the  part  of  young  men  to  seek 
a  livelihood  in  the  city.  2.  That  the  proportion  of  young 
men  between  the  ages  of  15  and  35  tends  to  vary  accord- 
ing to  the  size  of  the  city.  The  more  population  is 
concentrated,  still  greater  is  the  concentration  of  young 
men.*  From  18  to  20  per  cent,  of  the  population  of 
American  cities  are  young  men. 

The  second  characteristic  is  the  homeless  condition  of 
young  men  in  American  cities.  City  young  men  may  be 
divided  into  three  classes :  foreign  young  men,  strangers, 
and  young  men  with  homes,  either  of  their  own,  or 
their  parents.  In  American  cities,  the  foreign  element 
is  very  large.  Immigration  from  Europe,  of  a  very 
different  character  from  that  which  had  given  a  Puritan 
cast  to  the  free  institutions  of  the  republic,  began  to 
pour  with  increasing  volume  into  America.  In  1820,  it 
was  about  12,000  annually.  But  soon  the  famine- 
stricken  inhabitants  of  Ireland,  and  the  peasants  from 
Germany,  Austria  and  Italy  began  to  invade  America. 
Immigration  reached  in  1850  as  many  as  315,000  immi- 
grants in  a  single  year.  This  current,  interrupted  to 
some  extent  by  the  Civil  War,  has  brought  a  vast 
multitude  of  newcomers  to  America.  Between  1880 
and   1891,   5,240,000  immigrants  came   to   make  their 

'  See  "  Dying  at  the  Tops,"  Dr.  J.  W.  Clokey,  p.  19. 


102  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

homes  in  the  United  States.  The  cities  have  proved 
especially  attractive  to  immigrants  from  Europe.  The 
percentage  of  foreign-born  inhabitants  in  the  fifty  lead- 
ing American  cities  was  in  1880  eighteen  times  as  great 
as  the  percentage  of  foreign-born  persons  in  London. 
While  less  than  one-third  of  Americans  are  foreign  born, 
or  children  of  parents  born  in  other  lands,  62  per  cent. 
of  the  population  of  Cincinnati  was  foreign,  in  this 
sense;  83  per  cent,  of  Cleveland;  63  per  cent,  of 
Boston ;  80  per  cent,  of  New  York,  and  90  per  cent,  of 
Chicago.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  a  large  proportion 
of  the  immigrants  are  young  men  who  have  left  their 
fatherland  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  the  New  World. 
The  cities  of  America  have  proved  especially  attractive 
to  these  young  men.  Fully  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  yotmg 
men  m  American  cities  are  foreign  by  birth  or  parent- 
age. This  class  of  young  men  are  open  to  especial 
temptation.  Old  customs,  church  relations  and  tradi- 
tional ideas  of  conduct  have  lessened  their  hold  before 
these  young  men  have  had  time  to  adjust  themselves  to 
their  surroundings.  This  has  been  especially  true  of 
members  of  the  Roman  Church,  thousands  of  whom 
have  drifted  off  into  indifference  and  unbelief.  This 
half  of  the  city  young  men  of  America  are  especially 
impervious  to  the  American  agencies  for  preaching  the 
Gospel,  and  open  to  the  swarming  temptations  of  the 
city.  Thousands  of  these  foreign  young  men  have  no 
home  ties  and  belong  also  to  the  second  class  of  young 
men  who  may  be  called  the  stranger  portion  of  the  city 
population.  The  tendency  already  mentioned  of  popu- 
lation to  move  from  the  rural  districts  to  the  city,  and 
the  facility  with  which  Americans  change  residence 
from  one  city  to  another,  gives  a  colonist  character  to 
the  city  population.  The  resident  population  of  London 
which  is  London-born  is  63  per  cent,  of  the  whole, 
while   Cleveland,  which  in   1890  had  261,000  people, 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  103 

twenty  years  previous  had  a  population  of  only  72,ocx). 
It  is  impossible  to  estimate  the  percentage  of  city  young 
men  who  are  living  away  from  home,  but  it  is  very 
large.  One  incident  in  New  York  is  significant.^  There, 
young  men  who  have  fallen  below  the  plane  of  self- 
respect  live  in  the  "  Cheap  Lodging  Houses,"  where 
a  wretched  bed  in  a  crowded  room  may  be  had  for 
a  small  fee.  "  Nearly  all  of  these  lodgers  are  young 
men."  Inspector  Byrnes,  of  the  New  York  police 
force,  says:  "The  cheap  lodging  houses  have  caused 
more  destitution,  more  beggary  and  more  crime  than 
any  other  agency  I  know  of."^°  Mr.  Riis,  from  the 
reports  given  by  the  police  authorities,  estimates  that 
some  14,000  young  men  in  New  York  live  in  these 
"  Cheap  Lodging  Houses."  These  are  only  the  young 
men  whose  incomes  are  insufficient  to  secure  more  re- 
spectable lodgings,  and  they  form  but  a  small  percent- 
age of  the  young  men  who  are  strangers  in  New  York 
City.  A  very  large  proportion  of  the  young  men  in 
American  cities  are  living  away  from  home  influences, 
in  boarding  houses  and  lodgings. 

The  third  class  of  young  men  in  American  cities  are 
those  who  live  with  their  parents,  or  in  homes  of  their 
own.  Home,  Church  and  American  traditions  have  a 
much  better  opportunity  to  exert  a  powerful  elevating 
influence  upon  this  class  of  young  men.  They  respond 
to  this  influence,  and  are  among  the  most  valuable  o  f 
American  citizens.  But  this  class  of  young  men  are 
under  an  increasing  volume  of  evil  influences.  The 
simplicity  of  colonial  and  country  life  is  gone.  The 
young  man  of  the  city  is  in  the  whirl  of  temptation, 
the  fierce  struggle  for  place  and  the  feverish  thirst  for 
pleasure.     Whether  the  young  man  of  the  city  resides 

9  Riis'  "How  the  Other  Half  Lives,"  chapter  "  The  Cheap  Lodg- 
ing House." 

10  "  How  the  Other  Half  Uves,"  Riis,  p.  82. 


104         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 

witli  his  parents,  or  be  a  stranger  from  a  foreign  land, 
or  from  the  country,  the  influence  of  home  over  him  is 
greatly  diminished.  The  young  men  of  American  cities 
are  largely  a  homeless  class. 

Not  only  has  the  home  lost  much  of  its  hold,  but  the 
Evangelical  Church  has  no  real  grip  upon  the  majority 
of  the  young  men  of  American  cities. 

Scarcely  35  per  cent,  of  the  communicants  of  Ameri- 
can Protestant  Churches  are  men;  women  form  the 
greater  proportion  of  nearly  every  Protestant  commun- 
ion and  congregation.  The  Congregational  Churches  of 
Cleveland  enroll  2,200  women  and  only  1,200  men.^ 
The  proportion  of  the  communicants  and  worshipers 
in  the  majority  of  churches  who  are  young  men  is 
very  small.  In  a  town  of  14,000  people  in  Ohio,  in 
1890,  an  examination  of  the  register  of  the  eleven 
Protestant  Churches  showed  only  297  young  men  as 
members, — about  13  per  cent,  of  the  young  men  of  that 
town.  Similar  tests  have  been  made  in  six  Ohio  towns, 
with  a  similar  result.  A  careful  investigation  of  the 
habits  of  the  young  men  of  Cleveland,  made  by  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  in  1892,  shows 
that  out  of  60,000  young  men,  between  the  ages 
of  15  and  36,  in  that  city,  6,212,  about  10%  per  cent, 
were  members  of  Evangelical  Churches.^  Similar 
investigation  has  been  made  by  Associations  in 
widely  separated  sections  of  America.  Whatever 
conclusion  may  be  drawn  as  to  the  moral  character 
of  the  young  men  of  American  cities,  it  is  plain 
that  they  are  largely  withdrawn  from  the  influence 
of  the  Evangelical  Churches. 

One  of  the  chief  reasons  for  this  estrangement  is  the 
struggle  between  capital  and  labor,  which  involves  a 
large  section  of  city  young  men.     This  struggle  began 

1  Address,  Pres.  W.  G.  Ballantine,  25th  Report  Ohio  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

2  25th  Report  Cleveland  Y.  M.  C.  A. 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  105 

with  the  growth  of  cities  and  manufacture.  The  first 
city  trade  union  was  formed  in  New  York,  in  1803.' 
There  was  a  strike  among  printers,  in  1821.  The  first 
national  labor  organization  was  formed  in  1850.  By  i860, 
twenty-six  different  trades  were  organized.  The  cities 
of  America,  66  per  cent,  of  whose  population  are  work- 
ing men,  began  to  assume  the  aspect  of  two  organized 
camps,  in  which  capital  and  labor  stood  arrayed 
against  each  other.  Samuel  Loomis  says :  "  The 
faith  on  which  the  nation  was  founded,  and  through 
the  strength  of  which  she  has  endured  the  shock 
of  war  and  the  stress  of  stormy  times,  this  faith 
has  almost  no  place  among  the  working  classes."  "  It 
is  doubtful  if  one  in  twenty  of  the  average  congregation 
in  our  English  speaking  Protestant  city  churches  fairly 
belongs  to  this  class."  ^  Fully  60  per  cent,  of  the  young 
men  of  American  cities  belong  to  the  industrial  classes, 
and  share  their  prejudice  against  the  Church  and  its 
agencies.  While  a  large  number  of  the  young  men  of 
American  cities  are  active  workers  in  the  cause  of 
Evangelical  religion,  both  the  home  and  the  Church 
have  lost  their  hold  on  a  majority  of  the  young  men  of 
American  cities. 

The  fourth  characteristic  is  the  concentration  in 
American  cities  of  the  powers  of  evil.  Nowhere  else 
are  young  men  so  surrounded  by  temptation.  The  fact 
is  too  apparent  to  need  discussion.  Low  theatres,  con- 
cert halls,  liquor  saloons,  houses  of  ill-fame,  dives,  fast 
clubs,  and  even  hotels,  boarding  houses  and  the  city 
streets  swarm  with  temptations,  and  are  the  headquar- 
ters for  an  army  of  depraved  men  and  women  who  lie 
in  wait  to  prey  upon  young  men. 

The  city  is  without  parallel  the  great  center  of 
America's  religion,  piety  and  benevolence.     The  power, 

^  Labor  Movement  in  America,  Ely,  p.  38. 

*  Modern  Cities,  p.  82. 


106         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

leadership,  wealth  and  much  of  the  aggressive  zeal  of 
the  Church  is  in  the  city,  but  the  city  is  also  the  head- 
quarters of  vice  and  evil,  and  it  may  well  be  doubted, 
rctpidly  as  the  conserving  forces  of  the  city  have  grown, 
if  they  bear  as  favorable  a  relation  to  the  powers  of 
evil  as  they  did  in  1830,  when  the  American  Industrial 
Era  began.  This  concentration  of  the  forces  of  evil 
in  American  cities  is  aimed  directly  at  young  men 
who  are  so  largely  removed  from  the  influences  of  both 
home  and  Church. 

The  case  is  complete :  American  life  had  entered 
upon  a  new  stage.  The  Industrial  Era  ushered  in  the 
supremacy  of  the  city.  These  cities  began  to  be 
crowded  with  an  abnormally  large  proportion  of  young 
men,  a  small  minority  of  whom  were  earnest  support- 
ers of  the  Evangelical  faith,  but  the  greater  majority 
of  whom  were  beyond  the  influence  of  home  and  the 
ordinary  agencies  of  the  Church,  exposed  to  new  and 
powerful  temptations.  In  this  emergency  the  evangel- 
istic zeal,  liberality  and  energy  in  the  American  Church, 
which  has  already  been  described,  needed  only  direc- 
tion to  organize  a  mighty  agency  to  save  young  men. 
This  opportunity  came  with  the  founding  of  the  Boston 
Association  on  the  London  model,  in  December,  1851. 

Sec.  16. — Founding  of  the  American  Association, 
December,  1851,  to  June,  1854. 

The  first  period  of  the  development  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  on  the  American  continent 
properly  extends  from  the  founding  of  the  Montreal  and 
Boston  Associations,  in  185 1,  to  the  permanent  location 
of  the  American  Committee  in  New  York  in  1866.  This 
period  of  15  years,  in  spite  of  the  movement  towards 
unity,  and  the  establishment  of  a  national  alliance,  in 
contrast  with  later  development  must  be  called  ?i. period 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  107 

of  local  effort.  There  was  no  general  consciousness  of 
a  great  national  or  world-wide  movement.  The  four 
leading  events  of  this  period  were  : 

The  founding  of  the  movement  under  the  leadership 
of  Boston  and  Montreal. 

The  establishment  of  the  confederation  under  the 
leadership  of  William  Chauncy  Langdon,  of  Washing- 
ton. 

The  great  revival  of  1857  to  i860,  which,  beginning 
in  New  York,  swept  over  the  whole  country,  and  which, 
while  it  almost  overwhelmed  for  a  number  of  years  the 
original  definite  idea  of  the  distinctive  mission  of  the 
Association  to  young  men,  and  made  it  in  many  places  a 
general  missionary  agency  to  all  classes,  confirmed  for- 
ever the  evangelistic  character  of  the  movement. 

The  fourth  work  of  this  period  was  the  mission  to 
the  army  and  navy  during  the  great  Civil  War,  one  of 
the  noblest  instances  of  devotion  in  the  annals  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  the  most  brilliant  page  in  the  early  history 
of  the  Association. 

This  period  of  fifteen  years  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada  was  one  of  uncertainty  and  experiment.  The 
mission  of  the  Association  was  ill-defined  in  the  minds 
of  many  of  its  supporters  ;  the  relation  of  the  Associa- 
tions to  each  other  and  to  the  Church  was  undeter- 
mined. It  was  a  period  of  training  of  leaders  and 
discovery  of  methods  of  work,  during  which  the  Amer- 
ican Association  gradually  grew  into  self-consciousness, 
and  in  which  the  Association  tradition  was  being 
formed.  It  was  a  period  during  which  the  spiritual 
power  necessary  for  a  great  undertaking  slowly  devel- 
oped. 

On  the  other  hand,  this  period  did  not  define  definite- 
ly the  aim  of  the  Association  as  a  work  for  young  men 
by  young  men.  It  was  clearly  recognized  as  a  society 
of  young  men,  but  many  of  the  leaders  thought  the 


108         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

efforts  of  the  Association  should  be  directed  to  preach- 
ing the  Gospel  to  all  classes  of  society.  In  the  second 
place,  the  relation  of  the  Association  to  the  Church  was 
not  defined.  There  was  a  strong  tendency  which  ulti- 
mately prevailed  to  limit  the  control  to  evangelical 
Christians,  but  no  definition  of  an  evangelical  church 
was  formulated.  The  Association  had  not  evolved  its 
method  of  work  for  the  fourfold  development  of  young 
men,  spiritually,  intellectually,  socially,  and  physically. 
It  was  as  yet  confined  almost  wholly  to  the  spiritual 
and  intellectual  side  of  its  mission.  The  American 
Associations  did,  however,  do  much  during  this  period 
to  furnish  a  wholesome  social  resort. 

In  this  chapter  we  are  to  discuss  the  work  accom- 
plished in  America  between  December,  1851,  and  Au- 
gust, 1855,  the  date  of  the  Paris  convention.  The  two 
events  of  these  five  years  are  the  founding  of  the  local 
Associations,  and  of  the  Confederation. 

THE   BOSTON   ASSOCIATION. 

In  America,  as  in  Germany  and  Great  Britain,  there 
had  been  many  efforts  to  inaugurate  special  work  for 
young  men.  It  has  not  been  the  purpose  of  this  treatise 
to  enter  into  a  discussion  of  these  movements.  Cotton 
Mather  speaks  of  young  men's  religious  societies  in  the 
early  colonial  days  in  New  England.  Some  of  these 
had  a  continuous  existence  covering  a  long  period,  one 
for  150  years. 

The  Nasmith  movement,  shortly  preceding  the  found- 
ing of  the  Association,  did  much  to  awaken  an  interest 
in  Christian  effort  for  young  men,  and  in  Montreal 
trained  the  men  who  organized  the  first  Association  on 
the  American  continent. 

In  the  United  States,  the  only  society  formed  previous 
to  1851  which  vitally  influenced  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian  Association    was  the    "  Young  Men's  Society   of 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  109 

Religions  Inquiry,"  of  Cincinnati.  In  1848,  seven  young 
men  in  Cincinnati,  who  were  members  of  the  same 
church,  formed  themselves  into  a  society  "  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cultivating  Christian  intercourse ;  of  assisting 
each  other  in  growth  in  grace  and  knowledge,  and  es- 
pecially of  enlarging  their  acquaintance  with  the  relig- 
ious movements  of  their  own  country  and  of  the  world, 
and  fitting-  themselves  for  more  extended  usefulness 
in  the  service  of  the  Divine  Redeemer."  ^  This  society 
was  very  soon  reorganized  on  an  interdenomina- 
tional basis,  and,  in  seeking  an  appropriate  way  "  to 
extend  their  influence "  in  Christian  service,  wrote 
a  letter  to  Dr.  Samuel  Miller,  a  prominent  theologian 
connected  with  Princeton  University.  In  replying, 
Dr.  Miller  said :  "I  earnestly  advise  that  your  in- 
quiries and  benevolent  efforts  be  especially  directed 
to  the  moral  and  spiritual  benefit  of  children  and 
young  people.  He  that  searches  out  a  child  or 
young  person,  and  especially  a  young  man  of  amiable 
and  promising  character,  and  secures  for  him  a  good 
literary  and  religious  education,  may  be  said  to  be  doing 
good  in  the  most  solid  and  permanent  form  possible. 
*  *  *  I  believe  there  is  no  branch  of  religious  effort 
more  likely  to  richly  remunerate  the  effort  bestowed 
upon  it  than  searching  out  the  children  of  the  needy 
and  vicious,  providing  for  their  moral  and  religious 
education,  and  teaching  them  to  live  to  God,  to  their 
country,  and  to  their  own  happiness."  This  letter 
shaped  the  activities  of  the  new  society,  which  in  a  few 
years  enrolled  seventy  earnest,  active  young  men,  who 
devoted  much  effort  to  Christian  work.  The  two  ob- 
jects of  their  efforts  were  young  men  and  the  children 
of  the  poor.  In  their  work  for  young  men  they  estab- 
lished nicely  furnished  rooms,  with  a  library,  reading 
room,  and  parlors,  where  semi-monthly  meetings   were 

^  Report  First  American  Convention,  1854,  p.  29. 


no         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

held  of  a  religious  and  social  character.  In  carrying  on 
the  work  for  children,  seven  Sunday  Schools  were 
established  in  the  more  destitute  parts  of  the  city, 
which  were  managed  and  taught  by  members  of  the 
"  Young  Men's  Society."  This  effort  at  Cincinnati  was 
at  first  entirely  local,  but  after  the  introduction  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  this  society  identi- 
fied itself  with  the  Association  cause,  and  with  the  ma- 
turity of  experience  threw  itself  into  the  movement. 
The  influence  of  the  Cincinnati  Association  was  power- 
ful in  forming  the  Confederation,  and  especially  in 
fostering  the  spiritual  zeal  of  the  American  Associations, 
but  not  being  a  movement  directed  solely  toward  young 
men,  this  society  was  one  of  the  chief  influences  in 
diverting  the  American  Associations  from  their  specific 
mission.  In  a  few  years,  however,  the  Cincinnati  As- 
sociation recognized  the  wisdom  of  concentrating  its  ef- 
forts upon  work  exclusively  for  young  men.  It  is  now 
an  organization  of  nearly  2,000  members,  and  has  re- 
cently erected  a  building  of  its  own  at  a  cost  of  $200,000. 

The  real  founding  of  the  Association  in  America  was 
in  i85i,when  the  influence  of  the  London  idea  reached 
simultaneously  Montreal,  in  Canada,  and  Boston,  the 
metropolis  of  New  England.  We  are  especially  con- 
cerned with  the  Boston  movement  because  it  was  from 
Boston  the  Association  has  spread  over  the  American 
continent. 

In  the  winter  of  1849-1850,  a  student  from  Columbia 
University,  New  York,  named  G.  M.  Van  Derlip,  visited 
Edinburg  University  for  a  course  of  study.  During  his 
stay  abroad  he  spent  some  time  in  London,  where  he 
became  acquainted  with  the  London  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association.  He  was  so  much  impressed  with 
the  value  of  this  organization  that  he  prepared  an 
extended  account  of  it,  which  was  sent  to  the  Watch- 
majt  and  Reflector^  of  Boston,  the  organ  of  the   Baptist 


THE  AMERICAN  MO  VEMEN  T.  Ill 

denomination.  This  letter,  written  in  June,  1850,  de- 
scribed so  vividly  the  work  in  London  in  the  seventh 
year  of  its  history,  and  was  such  an  important  link  in 
extending  the  movement  in  America,  that  a  considerable 
extract  must  be  quoted  from  it.''  It  was  written  from 
London  as  follows  : 

"  Taking  the  most  direct  course  from  the  general 
post  office  to  the  Bank,  on  the  right-hand  side  of 
Gresham  Street,  a  large  stuccoed  building  will  be 
observed,  on  the  doors  of  which  is  inscribed,  '  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association.'  Ascending  the  stairway, 
we  enter  a  spacious  apartment  some  sixty  by  thirty 
feet.  It  is  elegantly  furnished  with  m.ahogany  tables, 
sofas  and  lounges.  Here  are  to  be  found  the  principal 
newspapers  of  the  Kingdom,  together  with  copies  of 
journals  from  every  part  of  the  world. 

"  Ascending  another  flight,  we  reach  a  room  supplied 
with  all  the  reviews  and  magazines.  Adjoining  it  is 
the  library  room,  in  which  lectures  are  occasionally 
delivered.  The  library  may  be  called  a  small  one^ 
having  less  than  eight  thousand  volumes,  but  size  is  no 
criterion  of  value,  for  a  better  selected  collection  of 
books  —  one  more  completely  adapted  to  the  wants  of 
those  using  it  —  can  scarcely  be  conceived  of. 

"  In  the  library  room,  on  Sunday  afternoon,  a  large 
class  of  young  men  meet  to  study  the  Word  of  God. 
There  are  other  classes  of  the  same  kind,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Association,  meeting  in  different  parts 
of  the  city.  The  graduates  of  these  classes  make  effi- 
cient Sunday  School  teachers.  On  the  floor  above  the 
library  are  bath  rooms,  class  rooms,  etc.  Instruction  is 
regularly  given  to  classes  in  French,  German,  Latin, 
Greek,  and  Hebrew.  There  is  also  a  class  in  English 
literature  which  meets  weekly  under  the  supervision  of 
Rev.  Charles  Stovel. 

^  See  Young  3fen's  Era,  June  14,  1S94. 


112         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

"  There  is  one  peculiarity  in  the  arrangement  of  the 
Association,  and  that  is  the  refreshment  room.  Provis- 
ion is  made  for  the  physical  as  well  as  intellectual  man. 
Between  the  hours  of  5  and  8  P.  M.,  servants  are  in 
attendance,  and  members  are  furnished  with  tea,  coffee, 
chocolate  and  other  refreshments  at  cost  price,  about 
half  the  price  charged  at  restaurants.  Members  can 
now  spend  two  or  three  hours  in  the  reading  room  after 
business  hours  before  going  home. 

"  I  see  I  have  reversed  the  proper  order  by  describing 
the  *  local  habitation '  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  before  speaking  of  the  Association  itself. 
It  is,  comparatively  speaking,  a  new  institution.  Six 
years  ago  it  was  organized.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Binney, 
in  an  address  delivered  at  a  late  meeting  of  the  society, 
said  : 

"  '  There  was  a  young  man  ( George  Williams )  in  a 
certain  house  in  London,  working  away  there,  aye,  and 
working  well ;  a  young  man  of  activity  and  tact  and 
industry  and  talent,  attending  to  his  business,  and  being 
thoroughly  in  his  business  when  he  was  in  it,  and  the 
thought  rose  up  in  his  mind  of  getting  a  few  young 
men,  like-minded,  together,  to  read  the  Scriptures  and 
unite  in  prayer,  and  lo,  this  institution  came  to  be 
evolved  from  that  one  thought.' 

"  Its  religious  character  is  its  peculiar  glory.  There 
are  other  associations  which  accomplish  a  part  of  what 
this  proposes,  but  I  know  of  none  in  which  the  attain- 
ment of  vital  piety  and  manifestation  of  godliness  is 
the  leading  object.  It  is  not  enough  that  a  man  should 
be  religious  in  the  sense  often  understood.  A  man  has 
more  to  do  than  save  himself.  Says  Frederick  Maurice, 
*  The  Kingdom  of  God  begins  within,  but  it  is  to  mani- 
fest itself  without ;  it  is  to  penetrate  the  feelings,  habits, 
thoughts,  words,  acts  of  him  who  is  the  subject  of  it.' 
Believing  these  things,  not  a  few  Christian  young  men 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  113 

of  London  resolved  in  God's  strength  to  accomplish 
these  objects,  viz.  : 

**  The  improvement  of  the  spiritual  and  mental  con- 
dition of  commercial  young  men  by  the  efforts  of  the 
members  of  the  society  in  the  sphere  of  their  daily  call- 
ing, by  devotional  meetings,  Biblical  instruction,  mu- 
tual improvement  classes,  and  the  diffusion  of  Christian 
literature.  Article  8  of  their  constitution  reads,  *  Any 
person  shall  be  eligible  for  membership  who  gives 
decided  evidence  of  his  conversion  to  God.'  Young 
men  of  good  character  may  enjoy  the  privileges  of  the 
library  and  reading  room  on  payment  of  a  small  sum. 
The  first  three  years  of  its  existence  there  was  a  strug- 
gle. The  munificence  of  George  Hitchcock,  Esq.,  kept 
the  society  free  from  debt,  yet  it  was  felt  that  too  little 
was  accomplished. 

"  In  1848,  the  third  annual  course  of  lectures  was  pub- 
lished, and  in  a  short  time  36,000  copies  were  sold. 
The  attention  of  the  Christian  public  w^as  at  once  di- 
rected to  the  Association,  and  thousands  of  warm  friends 
enlisted.  All  the  evangelical  clergymen  of  L<ondon  are 
its  warm  friends,  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  young 
men  of  their  congregations  members.  As  might  have 
been  expected,  a  few  high  churchmen  have  opposed  it 
openly. 

"  There  are  district  prayer  meetings  held  regularly  in 
five  different  parts  of  London,  and  numbers  of  young 
men  trace  their  conversion  to  them,  and  bless  God  for 
this  Association.  There  is  scarcely  a  commercial  house 
in  London  without  one  or  more  missionaries  among 
their  clerks.  Young  men  from  the  country  come  up  to 
London,  and  many  are  at  once  led  out  of  temptation. 
Instead  of  snares,  they  find  friends  who  have  provided  a 
delightful  place,  and  a  delightful  way  to  spend  leisure 
hours.  The  young  stranger  can  say  no  longer,  '  No 
man  careth  for  my  soul.'     This  is  best  of  all.     I  have 


114  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

detailed  the  foregoing  facts,  fondly  hoping  that  the 
good  example  may  be  followed.  G.  N.  V." 

This  letter  appeared  in  the  Watchman  and  Reflector 
in  October,  1851,  and  fell  under  the  eyes  of  a  converted 
sea  captain  named  J.  V.  Sullivan,  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  who,  in  his  roving  life,  had  realized  in- 
tensely the  temptation  to  which  young  men  in  the 
thronging  streets  of  modern  cities  are  exposed.  The 
desire  of  Captain  vSullivan  was  aroused  to  have  a  similar 
work  done  among  the  young  men  of  Boston  who  were 
being  led  into  lives  of  sin.  Captain  Sullivan  visited  the 
Association  in  London,  and  was  so  impressed  with  its 
work  that  on  his  return  he  began  to  urge  the  formation 
of  a  similar  society.''  Through  his  efforts,  on  December 
15th,  1851,  "thirty-two  men,  representing  twenty  con- 
gregations of  Boston,  met  in  the  vestry  of  the  Central 
Church  to  consider  the  matter."  "" 

Mr.  Charles  Demon,  afterwards  to  play  so  noble  a 
part  in  the  work  for  the  Union  soldiers,  was  appointed 
Chairman,  and  Henry  S.  Chase,  Secretary.  This  meet- 
ing favored  the  proposed  enterprise,  and  appointed  a 
committee,  of  which  Captain  Sullivan  was  a  member, 
to  prepare  a  plan  of  organization.  The  meeting  then 
adjourned  to  December  22d,  "  when  they  assembled 
with  largely  increased  numbers  in  the  Old  South 
Chapel,  in  Spring  Lane,  to  consider  the  proposed  con- 
stitution." 

For  years  the  struggle  between  the  Orthodox,  or 
Trinitarians,  as  they  were  called,  and  the  Unitarian  and 
Universalist  party,  had  been  characteristic  of  the  relig- 
ious life  of  Boston.  The  evangelical  or  orthodox,  and 
the  non-evangelical  party,  both  Unitarians  and  Univer- 
salists,  had  learned  to  know  each  other  well,  and  it  was 

"'  I  have  beeii  unable  to  discover  whether  Capt.  Sullivan  began 
agitating  for  an  Association  before,  or  after,  the  publication  of  the 
Watchman  letter. — [The;  Author.] 

~^  Report  Boston  Association,  1853,  A.  M.  -21. 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  115 

a  recognized  fact  that  they  could  not  work  together  for 
a  common  end.  This  was  a  critical  point  in  the  inaugu- 
rating of  any  religious  enterprise.  It  is  not  surprising 
that  it  was  almost  the  first  question  raised  when  the 
constitution  came  up  for  adoption  before  the  young 
men  assembled  in  the  chapel  of  the  "  Old  South 
Church,"  on  December  22,  1851.  The  non-evangelical 
])arty  in  the  United  States  was  clearly  defined  and 
easily  recognized.  Here  was  one  advantage,  at  least,  of 
a  free  church  system.  Instead  of  all  parties  being 
identified  with  the  State  Church,  as  in  Germany,  in 
America,  each  party  forms  its  own  communion.  In 
Boston,  at  this  time,  the  non-evangelicals  were  repre- 
sented by  the  Unitarian  and  Universalist  Churches  ;  the 
evangelicals  principally  by  the  Episcopalians,  Baptists, 
Congregationalists  and  Methodists. 

The  question  thus  arose  in  a  very  clear  and  definite 
shape,  should  members  of  all  six  of  these  denomina- 
tions be  admitted,  or  only  members  of  the  evangeli- 
cal churches?  The  qtiestion  was  accentuated  by 
the  fact  that  Boston,  of  all  places  in  America,  was 
the  battle-ground  where  the  conflict  between  evan- 
gelical and  non-evangelical  belief  had  been  fought 
out.  The  non-evangelicals  to-day  number  a  mere  hand- 
ful in  the  United  States,  scarcely  2  per  cent,  of 
American  Protestants,  but  in  Boston  and  vicinity  they 
have  some  45,000  members.*  No  one  fully  realized  the 
profound  importance  of  the  step  under  discussion. 
The  matter  was  earnestly  debated.  As  yet  it  was 
purely  an  evangelical  movement ;  should  the  mem- 
bership be  limited  to  members  of  these  churches  ? 
It  was  the  supreme  moment  for  the  American 
movement.  After  much  discussion,  the  constitution 
was  referred  back  to  the  committee,  and  four  young 
men    appointed   to   secure    the  advice  of  the    leading 

*  Carroll,  "Religious  Forces  in  U.  S." 


116  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

representatives  of  the  four  evangelical  denominations. 
The  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  in  the  same  place, 
the  "Old  South  Church,"  December  29,  1851,  for 
final  decision.  Bishop  Eastburn  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  Dr.  Sharp  of  the  Baptist,  and  the  Bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  were  interviewed  without  con- 
ference with  each  other  for  their  opinions.  The  young 
men  brought  the  opinions  of  these  leading  ministers  to 
the  meeting  held  on  December  29th,  and  it  was  found 
they  were  unanimous  in  favoring  organization  on  an 
evangelical  basis.  The  meeting  was  almost  to  a  man 
of  the  same  opinion,  and  the  follov/ing  Constitution  was 
unanimously  adopted : 

PREAMBLE. 

"We,  the  subscribers,  led  by  a  strong  desire  for  the  promotion  of 
evangelical  religion  among  the  young  men  of  this  city,  and  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  concentrated  eflfort,  both  for  our  own  spirit- 
ual welfare  and  that  of  those  from  without,  who  may  be  brought 
under  our  influence,  and  desirous  of  forming  an  Association  in 
which  we  may  together  labor  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  great 
end  proposed,  hereby  agree  to  adopt  for  our  united  government  the 
following 

CONSTITUTION. 

Article  I. 

Title  and  Object. 

The  name  of  this  society  shall  be  the  "  Boston  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,"  and  its  object  the  improvement  of  the 
spiritual  and  mental  condition  of  young  men. 

Article  II. 
Members. 

Section  i.  Active  Members.  Any  young  man  who  is  a  member 
in  regular  standing  of  an  evangelical  church  may  become  an  active 
member  of  this  Association  by  the  payment  of  one  dollar  annually. 
Active  members  only  shall  have  the  right  to  vote  and  be  eligible  to 
oflBce. 

Section  2.  Associate  Members.  Any  young  man  of  good  moral 
character  may  become  a  member  of  this  Association  by  the  payment 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  Il7 

of  one  dollar  annually,  and  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of 
the  Association,  eligibility  to  ofl&ce  and  the  right  to  vote  only  ex- 
cepted. 
Section  3.     Related  to  life  members. 

Artici,E  III. 

The  officers  of  this  Association  shall  consist  of  a  President,  four 
Vice-Presidents,  Recording  Secretary,  Corresponding  Secretary, 
Treasurer  and  Librarian,  all  of  whom  shall  be  elected  annually  by 
ballot. 

A  standing  committee,  consisting  of  two  members  from  each 
evangelical  church  in  the  city,  shall  also  be  chosen  at  the  annual 
meeting,  who  shall  appoint  tw^elve  from  their  own  number  to  con- 
stitute, with  the  officers  elect,  a  Board  of  Managers." 

Then  follow  articles  upon  the  duties  of  managers  and 
officers.     In  the  By-Laws,  Article  IV  reads  : 

"  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  annually  appoint  from  its  own 
number  four  committees,  consisting  of  five  persons,  one  of  whom 
shall  be  a  Vice-President  of  the  Association." 

The  names  of  these  committees  were  as  follows  : 

(i)  "Committee  on  Library  and  Rooms." 

(2)  "Committee  on  Lectures." 

(3)  A  "  Committee  on  Publication,"  which  published  copies  of  the 
Constitution,  with  a  list  of  officers  of  the  Association,  and  the  local- 
ity of  its  rooms,  and  which  were  forwarded  to  the  pastors  of  each 
evangelical  church  in  Boston. 

(4)  A  "Committee  on  Finance,  to  devise  means  for  obtaining  the 
necessarj'  funds  for  the  Association." 

By  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  of  Boston  was  organized  on  De- 
cember 29,  1851,  seven  years  and  a  half  after  the  bed- 
room meeting  in  George  Hitchcock's  establishment  in 
far  away  London. 

The  Boston  Association  had  clearly  defined  principles. 
It  was  to  be  a  work  for  young  men. 

Its  aim  was  "  to  improve  them  spiritually  and  men- 
tally." 

Its  controlling  membership  was  evangelical. 

Its  management,  like  the  parent  Association  in  Lon- 


lis         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

don,  was  to  be  a  small  board  of  Christian  men  chosen 
by  the  evangelical  members. 

It  recognized  the  value  of  bringing  young  men  under 
good  influences  by  allowing  moral  young  men  to  be- 
come associate  members. 

Next  to  emphasis  upon  the  evangelical  position  the 
greatest  addition  was  the  introduction  of  the  committee 
system,  which  came  to  be  characteristic  of  the  American 
work.  Committeemen  were  appointed  to  carry  out  the 
various  plans  of  the  organization. 

There  is  an  undoubted  advance  in  the  emphasis  upon 
the  value  of  the  Association  as  a  social  resort.  This 
may  be  seen  from  the  address  introducing  the  Constitu- 
tion, which  said  :  "A  young  man  who  is  a  stranger  here 
finds  it  difficult  to  obtain  access  to  Christian  families 
or  in  any  way  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  his  social  na- 
ture, except  in  places  that  are  dangerous  to  his  morals." 
*  *  *  *  *  "  We  intend  to  make  this  a  social  organiza- 
tion of  those  in  whom  the  love  of  Christ  has  produced 
love  to  man.  We  shall  meet  the  young  stranger  as  he 
enters  the  city,  take  him  by  the  hand,  direct  him  to  a 
boarding  house,  introduce  him  to  the  Church  and  Sab- 
bath School,  and  bring  him  to  the  rooms  of  the  As- 
sociation. By  making  his  social  atmosphere  a  Chris- 
tian one,  we  believe  the  allurements  to  evil  will  be 
stripped  of  much  of  their  power." 

The  first  circular  sent  out  in  January,  1852,  expressed 
the  same  hope  :  "  The  young  men  of  Boston  belonging 
to  the  four  evangelical  denominations  have  united  them- 
selves for  the  purpose  of  aiding  young  men  who  come 
to  our  city  as  strangers,  by  surrounding  them  with  such 
social  influences  as  will  tend  to  their  moral  and  spiritual 
profit." 

The  idea  of  unity  of  all  evangelical  denominations 
appears  in  all  the  proceedings  of  the  Boston  Association. 
The  address  just  mentioned  closes  with  a  joyful  note  : 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  119 

"We  have  a  Christian  union,  so  often  longed  for,  in 
actual  and  successful  operation,  concentrating  the 
Christian  influences  of  the  city  and  binding  into  one 
the  various  congregations  of  the  Lord." 

Officers  were  chosen  on  January  5th,  1852,  and  the 
Board  of  Managers  appointed  five  days  later.  "  Two 
months  of  severe  labor  followed.  The  vStanding  Com- 
mittee and  the  Board  of  Managers  met  often  and  de- 
voted a  large  portion  of  their  time  to  the  obtaining  of 
funds  and  in  interesting  the  Christian  community  in 
the  cause.  The  funds  needed  to  commence  the  enter- 
prise were  obtained,  spacious  and  convenient  rooms 
were  provided,  fitted  up  in  neat  and  agreeable  style, 
furnished  with  papers  and  periodicals  and  a  foun- 
dation laid  for  a  library."  ^  These  rooms  were  on  the 
corner  of  Washington  and  Sumner  Streets,  and  were 
about  80  by  30  feet  in  size.  Mr.  Francis  L.  Watts, 
a  learned  and  Christian  lawyer,  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  was  chosen  President  of  the  Associa- 
tion. The  opening  of  the  rooms  attracted  considerable  at- 
tention, over  six  hundred  young  men  being  present.  Dr. 
Lyman  Beecher,  Bishop  Bastburn,  and  other  prominent 
ministers  were  present,  and  made  stirring  addresses. 
The  Governor  of  the  State,  Honorable  George  L.  Briggs, 
and  Honorable  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  were  also  among 
the  guests.  Dr.  Beecher  closed  his  address  with  these 
words:  *'  I  always  felt  sure  the  millennium  would  come, 
but  never  so  sure  of  it  before  as  now.  I'  breathe  a 
longer  breath  than  ever  I  breathed  before.  You  will 
stand  fast  and  sure  and  go  on  in  this  good  work,  until 
your  great  adversary,  the  Devil,  is  turned  into  Hell !  " 
The  enthusiasm,  determination  and  large  plans  of  the 
Boston  Association  were  characteristic  of  the  New 
World.  In  less  than  five  months,  the  dissociation  num- 
bered   1,200   members,    "  most   of  whom    were    active 

'  Second  Boston  Report. 


120         YOUNG  BIEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

members  of  the  Association."  The  secular  or  indirect 
spiritual  work  was  carried  on  along  four  lines,  under 
the  direction  of  the  four  committees  of  the  Board  al- 
ready mentioned ;  the  Committee  on  Library  and 
Rooms ;  Lecture  Committee  ;  the  Committee  on  Pub- 
lication and  the  Committee  on  Finance.  A  Vice-Presi- 
dent was  Chairman  of  each  committee  and  these  com- 
mittees made  their  reports  at  quarterly  meetings  of  the 
Board.  The  rooms  on  Washington  and  Sumner  Streets, 
for  which  the  Association  paid  $650  rent  yearly,  although 
they  were  in  the  fourth  story,  were  fitted  up  quite 
elegantly.  The  first  report  states  that:  "The  Commit- 
tee on  Rooms  felt  the  importance  of  a  central  location, 
easy  of  access  and  attractive  to  young  men.  If  we 
would  induce  young  men  to  freqiient  our  rooms  instead 
of  places  of  danger,  we  must  provide  such  as  are  pleas- 
ant in  themselves  and  attractive  on  account  of  the 
society  there  found  and  the  entertainment  furnished. 
These  considerations  caused  the  committee  to  provide 
rooms  neater  and  more  agreeable  and  more  attractive 
in  all  respects  than  the  boarding  houses  where  the 
young  men  whom  we  seek  to  benefit  severally  reside." 
During  the  year  1852,  the  rooms  were  frequented  and 
their  advantages  enjoyed  by  a  large  number  of  young 
men.  But  rooms  on  the  fourth  floor  were  not  a  favor- 
able place  for  a  resort.  This  was  to  be  a  prominent 
feature  in  the  plans  of  the  Boston  Board.  So  it  is  not 
surprising  that  they  made  a  vigorous  effort  to  secure 
quarters  nearer  the  ground.  "  The  committee  found  a 
suite  of  rooms  in  the  New  Tremont  Temple,  admirablv 
adapted  for  their  purpose,  which  they  could  have  by 
favor  of  the  owners  for  $1,200  per  year."  Tremont 
Temple  belonged  to  a  Baptist  congregation,  and  while 
the  proposed  apartments  would  command  $1,500  rent,  a 
reduction  was  made  to  the  Association.  "One  of  the 
most  energetic  and  active  members  of  the  Standing 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVE3IENT.  1£: 

Committee  raised  the  extra  money  necessary  to  pay  the 
rent  for  two  years,"  and  the  handsome  rooms  in  Tre- 
mont  Temple,  the  home  of  the  Association  for  so  many 
years,  were  opened  early  in  the  year  1853,  scarcely 
eighteen  months  from  the  foundino^  of  the  organization. 

In  accordance  with  the  constitution,  a  "  Librarian  and 
Assistant  vSecretary"  was  appointed  to  have  charge  of  the 
rooms  and  be  a  missionary  among  young  men.  The 
conception  of  a  secretary  as  the  chief  executive  officer 
was  a  later  development.  Boston  has  been  favored 
with  some  of  the  ablest  men  in  the  service  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  and  has  paid  them  liberal- 
ly, but  the  first  secretary  began  his  work  for  $507  per 
year.  The  Board  of  Managers  devoted  a  great  deal  of 
attention  to  the  needs  of  the  Association. 

The  receipts  for  the  first  eighteen  months  were  $6,900 ; 
the  expenses  $5,008.  Thirteen  gentlemen  contributed 
$50  each,  and  112  gave  $25  each.  The  same  liberality 
and  noble  devotion  which  in  later  years  has  invested 
nearly  half  a  million  dollars  in  a  palatial  edifice  and 
sustains  an  annual  budget  of  $35,000  for  the  saving  of 
the  young  men  of  a  great  city  was  manifest  in  the  first 
movement  in  1851. 

One  of  the  novel  features  of  the  Boston  work  was  the 
freedom  with  which  they  employed  the  "  press  and  the 
post."  In  January,  1852,  a  circular  announcing  the 
purpose  of  the  Association  was  scattered  widely.  Before 
eighteen  months  had  passed,  more  than  10,000  copies  of 
the  constitution  and  5,000  copies  of  the  first  address 
delivered  before  the  friends  of  the  Association  in  May, 
1852,  outlining  its  purpose,  were  sent  to  every  pastor  in 
New  England  and  to  hundreds  of  Christian  men  and 
women  throughout  the  Union.  "  A  large  quantity  of 
other  matter  necessary  for  the  Association  was  printed 
under  the  direction  of  this  committee." 

With  all  the   enterprise  of  the  new  movement,  the 


122         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

managers  of  the  Association  did  not  seem  to  have  very 
definite  ideas  of  how  to  carry  on  the  religious  work 
necessary  to  reach  young  men.  The  presence  of  Tre- 
inont  Temple,  with  its  large  auditorium,  in  the  end 
proved  a  snare  and  led  the  Board  in  a  few  years  into 
the  conducting  of  large  evangelistic  meetings  for  the 
general  public,  which  while  an  excellent  work,  was 
quite  aside  from  the  original  purpose  of  concentrating 
all  effort  to  win  young  men. 

The  first  step  taken  was  to  arrange  through  the 
Lecture  Committee  a  course  of  Sabbath  evening  lectures 
to  young  men,  by  prominent  ministers,  which  were 
delivered  before  the  Association  at  the  Melodeon  Hall. 
A  fee  sufficient  to  pay  expenses  was  charged  for  admis- 
sion. These  lectures  were  of  great  benefit  and  were 
open  to  the  general  public.  Some  of  the  ministers  were 
inclined  to  complain  that  it  drew  people  from  their  own 
churches,  but  the  work  prospered.  In  the  summer  of 
1856  a  series  of  tent  meetings  on  Boston  Common,  ad- 
dressed by  leading  clergymen,  was  undertaken.  These 
meetings,  which  were  attended  by  thousands,  were  kept 
up  for  a  number  of  years,  and  were  a  means  of  great 
blessing.  Even  policemen  bore  testimony  to  the  in- 
fluence they  had  upon  public  order. 

The  first  form  of  spiritual  effort  for  young  men  began 
with  the  founding  of  the  Association  in  a  request  by  a 
number  of  the  members  that  a  prayer  meeting  be  es- 
tablished in  the  rooms.  A  meeting  was  held  on  Mon- 
day evenings.  At  first  it  was  from  9  to  10  P.  M. ;  then 
at  8:30.  The  report  for  the  first  year  says  :  "  The  meet- 
ings have  been  of  deep  interest.  From  fifty  to  seventy- 
five  young  men  have  been  present  at  each  meeting,  and 
above  all,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  has  been  with  them, 
souls  have  been  born  there  and  quite  a  number  who 
now  rejoice  in  Christ  attribute  their  conversion  to  the  in- 
fluence of  this  meeting."     The  following  year  this  meet- 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  123 

ing  grew  in  power.  It  was  especially  characterized  by 
unity  of  feeling  and  the  enthusiasm  arising  from  the 
presence  of  members  of  different  denominations.  This 
meeting  continued  to  increase  in  influence  until  1857 
and  1858,  when  the  great  revival  gave  it  an  additional 
impetus. 

The  second  year  a  Bible  class  was  organized  which 
began  with  a  membership  of  136,  but  soon  assumed  a 
more  moderate  average  of  twenty  to  thirty.  Its  meet- 
ings were  held  on  Saturday  evenings.  Some  difficulty 
was  experienced  in  finding  a  suitable  teacher,  but  after 
a  year  or  two,  Mr.  Richard  Gardner  undertook  the  task. 
The  Bible  class  became  one  of  the  most  successful  feat- 
ures of  the  Association.  Unlike  the  British  classes, 
which  were  mainly  for  the  unconverted  or  for  young 
Christians,  these  classes  came  to  be  especially  for  young 
men  interested  in  Bible  study  and  for  training  students 
for  teachers  in  Sunday  School  classes.  "  The  Acts  of 
the  Apostles,"  "The  General  Epistle  of  James,"  "The 
Apocalypse,"  and  part  of  "The  Prophecy  of  Isaiah" 
formed  the  course  of  study  for  one  winter. 

It  is  noticeable  that  the  Association  from  its  central 
position  and  union  character  came  to  be  a  sort  of  re- 
ligious exchange  for  the  churches  of  the  city.  Various 
religious  agencies  employed  its  rooms  for  assembly  pur- 
poses from  time  to  time.  Pastors'  Unions  and  Benevo- 
lent Societies  met  in  the  lecture  hall. 

An  extensive  correspondence  was  inaugurated 
throughout  New  England  to  secure  information  re- 
garding young  men  who  were  coming  from  the 
country  and  small  towns  to  enter  business  in  Bos- 
ton. Much  effort  was  devoted  to  finding  employ- 
ment for  young  men,  and  many  incidents  are  re- 
corded of  members  watching  by  the  side  of  the  sick 
bed  of  some  country  lad  whose  home  was  miles  away 
on  a  New  Ens^land  hillside. 


124  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

Very  pleasant  relations  were  maintained  between  the 
Boston  Association  and  London,  which  was  always 
recognized  as  the  parent  of  the  movement.  The  first 
report  says :  "  There  is  a  similar  Association  in  Lon- 
don, from  which  we  took  our  idea,  and  with  which  we 
are  in  pleasant  correspondence."  From  time  to  time, 
letters  of  friendly  greeting  were  interchanged.  In  1853, 
the  Vice-President,  Honorable  Charles  T.  Russell,  and 
two  members  of  the  Boston  Association  attended,  as 
representatives  of  their  home  society,  th.e  annual  meeting 
of  the  London  Association  and  presented  a  report  of  the 
work  in  Boston. 

By  May,  1854,  the  date  of  the  third  anniversary,  the 
Boston  Association  presents  the  picture  of  a  young 
religious  society  filled  with  spiritual  zeal,  equipped 
with  attractive  apartments  as  a  social  resort,  enrolling 
over  2,500  members ;  a  compact  organization,  with  the 
management  in  the  hands  of  a  small  Board  of  Christian 
business  men,  elected  by  the  evangelical  members ;  a 
committee  system  for  carrying  out  the  plans  of  the 
Board,  a  clearly  defined  purpose  to  help  young  men 
spiritually  and  mentally,  but  on  the  whole  an  organiza- 
tion without  precedents  or  experience  to  guide  it. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Association  idea  was  wel- 
comed in  a  great  number  of  places.  The  efforts  of 
the  Publication  Committee  scattered  information 
concerning  the  movement,  not  onlv  throughout  New 
England,  but  over  the  whole  nation.  Knowledge  of 
the  Montreal  Association  suggested  to  the  young 
men  of  Toronto  the  formation  of  a  similar  society. 
During  the  years  1852  to  1854,  Associations  were  or- 
ganized mostly  through  the  influence  of  Boston,  in 
twenty-four  different  cities  in  the  United  States. 
Immediately  following  the  founding  of  the  Boston  So- 
ciety during  1852,  Associations  were  established  at  the 
following  cities  in  the  order  named  :  Worcester,  Spring- 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  125 

field,  Buffalo,  New  York  City,  Washington,  New  Lon- 
don, Detroit,  Concord  and  New  Orleans.^"  The  fol- 
lowing year,  1853,  societies  were  organized  in  as 
widely  separate  cities  as  Baltimore,  Alexandria,  Chi- 
cago, Peoria,  Louisville,  San  Francisco,  Providence, 
Brooklyn,  Lexington,  Ky.,  Quincy  and  Portland, 
Maine.  At  the  close  of  the  year  there  were  twenty- 
seven  Associations  in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada. They  were  young,  inexperienced,  separated 
from  each  other,  but  unified  by  a  common  origin, 
and  a  common  purpose — the  desire  to  win  young  men 
to  Jesus  Christ. 

Sec.  17. — The  Confederation. 

william  chauncy  langdon. 

Intercommunication  between  the  American  Associa- 
tions existed  to  some  extent  from  the  first,  though  it 
was  carried  on'  in  a  desultory  way.  Chance  visits 
brought  Associations  into  touch  ;  ministers  and  promi- 
nent laymen  of  one  city  were  invited  to  give  addresses 
by  neighboring,  and  sometimes  distant,  associations. 
During  the  first  year  of  its  history,  the  Boston  Society 
invited  Dr.  Stephen  H.  Tyng,  perhaps  the  most  active 
friend  of  the  Association  among  the  ministers  of  New 
York,  to  give  a  Sunday  evening  discourse.  Dr.  R.  S. 
Storrs  and  Bishop  Alonzo  Potter  also  accepted  similar 
invitations.  In  December,  1852,  Hon.  R.  C.  Winthrop, 
of  Boston,  who  had  been  present  at  the  opening  of  the 
rooms  of  the  Boston  Association,  was  invited  to  deliver 
an  address  before  the  Association  at  Washington.  Let- 
ters and  publications  were  constantly  interchanged,  es- 
pecially between  Boston  and  the  newer  organizations, 
seeking  information.  Between  Boston,  New  York  and 
Washington,  and  the  parent  Association  in  London,  a 

^ "  Report  of  the  Paris  Convention,  1855. 


126  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

friendly  correspondence  arose.  In  February,  1853, 
Rev.  Clement  M.  Butler  was  given  credentials  as 
a  delegate  from  the  Washington  Association,  to 
such  similar  organizations  as  he  might  visit  during  a 
tour  in  Europe.  Mr.  Butler  and  the  two  gentlemen 
from  Boston  already  mentioned  visited  a  number  of 
British  Societies.  A  real  contact  was  established  in  the 
following  year.  In  the  spring  of  1854,  Mr,  R.  C.  Mc- 
Cormick,  of  New  York,  who  had  already  made  a  tour 
of  a  number  of  American  Associations,  and  had  served 
as  an  officer  in  various  capacities  in  the  New  York 
Society,^  "having  given  notice  of  an  intended  visit  to 
Europe,  was  duly  accredited  by  the  New  York  organiza- 
tion as  its  delegate  to  the  kindred  Associations  of  the  Old 
World."  Mr.  McCormick,  in  thenameof  New  York,  "vis- 
ited the  Associations  at  London,  Liverpool,  Birmingham, 
Manchester,^  Huddersfield,  Glasgow,  Greenock,  Belfast, 
Dublin,  Limerick  and  Cork,  with  various  others  in  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland;  also  those  at  Paris,  Geneva  and 
Turin.  The  most  cordial  welcome  was  extended  to  him, 
and  many  of  the  Associations  passed  resolutions  thank- 
ing the  New  York  Association  for  appointing  a  delegate. 
At  every  point  it  was  insisted  that  Mr.  McCormick 
should  afford  all  the  information  possible  concerning 
the  progress  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations 
of  the  United  States."  The  President's  report  to  the 
New  York  Society  the  following  year  says :  "  The 
details  concerning  the  work  in  America  were  listened  to 
by  thousands  with  the  utmost  delight.  The  young  men 
of  Europe  were  anxious  to  become  familiar  with  the 
movements  of  their  American  brethren.  Let  us  hope 
that  the  happy  visit  of  our  delegate  may  tend  to 
strengthen  the  ties  of  our  sympathy  and  love  for  our 
Christian  friends  in  the  Old  World."     Mr.   McCormick 

^  See  2ud  Annual  Report  of  N.  Y.  Association,  p.  11. 
23rd  Annual  Report,  N.  Y.  Association,  p.  ii. 


rilK  AMERICAN  MOl'EMENT.  127 

did  much  by  interviews  with  leading  workers  and  by 
his  pubHc  addresses  to  arouse  a  sense  of  unity  and  a  de- 
sire for  fellowship  among  the  Associations  of  the  world, 
and  especially  to  draw  the  American  and  European 
Societies  into  closer  relations  and  prepare  the  way  for 
the  first  conference  of  Associations  of  all  lands  held  a 
year  later  at  Paris  during  the  Industrial  Exhibition 
of  1855. 

In  1853,  the  Association  at  Cincinnati  became  affili- 
ated wath  the  general  movement,  and  a  knowledge  of 
the  Montreal  and  Toronto  organizations  reached  several 
of  the  societies  in  the  United  States.  In  a  little  over 
two  years,  Associations  with  similar  constitutions  had 
sprung  up  in  the  leading  cities  of  America.  A  feeling 
of  common  origin,  a  common  purpose,  and  a  common 
need  of  each  other's  sympathy,  fellowship  and  encour- 
agement was  ripening  into  the  inevitable  fruition,  a 
union  which  should  weld  together  not  only  Associations 
of  the  same  country  into  national  organization,  but 
which  would  soon  establish  a  bond  of  fellowship  be- 
tween Christian  young  men  throughout  the  cities  of  the 
Protestant  world. 

The  man  whose  name  above  every  other  is  identified 
with  the  early  period  of  the  American  Associations  is 
Rev.  William  Chauncy  Langdon,  of  the  American  Epis- 
copal Church.  He  did  not  have  the  evangelistic  gift  of 
Dwight  L.  Moody,  the  loving  devotion  of  Sir  George 
Williams,  or  the  leadership  of  Robert  R.  McBurney,  or 
R.  C.  Morse,  But  though  his  service  to  the  Associa- 
tion was  not  equal  to  the  service  of  any  of  these,  and 
his  connection  was  limited  to  a  few  years,  while  the  As- 
sociation endures  his  name  will  not  be  forgotten.  He 
was  a  man  of  prophetic  faith,  and  endowed  with  the 
gifts  of  an  organizer,  an  intense  spirit,  yet  a  man  of 
wide  horizon.  He  failed  as  a  diplomat,  but  succeeded 
by   his    determination   and    enthusiasm.     As   early   as 


128         VOUjVG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

September,  1852,  when  the  Washington  Association 
was  but  three  months  old,  his  mind  was  filled  with  the 
vision  of  a  net-work  of  Christian  Associations  for  young 
men  established  in  every  city  of  the  New  World,  bound 
together  by  ties  of  a  common  origin  and  a  common  pur- 
pose, meeting  annually  in  convention  and  working 
unitedly  as  independent  members  of  a  common  federa- 
tion. A  year  later  he  had  grasped  the  idea  of  a  world 
union,  and  in  June,  1854,  on  the  floor  of  the  first  Ameri- 
can convention,  he  said  :  "  Already  two  hundred  and 
fifty  such -brotherhoods,  scattered  throughout  every  na- 
tion, people,  kindred  and  tongue,  lift  up  their  hearts  in 
unison  to  the  same  Savior  and  Redeemer,  and  it  scarce- 
ly needs  prophetic  inspiration  now  for  the  heart  confi- 
dent and  trusting  in  Him  to  look  forward  to  a  rapidly 
approaching  hour  when  the  young  men  of  the  age  shall 
have  risen  in  their  strength,  nay,  rather  in  the  strength 
of  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts,  and  when  through  them  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall  cover  the  earth  as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea."  ^  To  Mr.  Langdon's  faith  and 
generalship  the  American  Associations  owe  the  Confed- 
eration,— the  first  form. of  the  Association  as  an  interna- 
tional movement.  Mr,  Langdon  also  suggested  a  system 
of  correspondence  between  the  Associations  throughout 
the  world,  which  was  adopted  at  the  Paris  Conference 
of  1855. 

The  Washington  Association  played  an  important 
part  in  the  early  history  of  the  American  movement. 
The  capital,  to  a  greater  extent  than  any  other  city,  was 
filled  with  transient  young  men  whom  the  system  of  dis- 
tributing government  patronage  over  different  sections 
of  the  country  drew  to  the  seat  of  government.  These 
voung  men  who  occupied  positions  in  Washington  sel- 
dom looked  upon  their  residence  as  permanent,  but  re- 
garded themselves  as  citizens  of  the  home  section  which 

^  First  American  Conveulion  Report,  1854,  p.  49. 


THE  A  M ERIC  AN  .  MO  I  'EMENT  129 

tliey  represented.  It  is  not  surprising  that  the  Associa- 
tion of  this  city  should  have  been  the  first  to  be  inter- 
ested in  a  federation  of  the  various  Associations.  Two 
other  causes  already  suggested  were,  however,  more  po- 
tent. First,  the  presence  in  Washington  of  a  young  man 
fired  with  enthusiasm  for  a  national  organization,  and 
second,  the  longing  of  the  weaker  organizations  for  fel- 
lowship and  mutual  support. 

In  April,  1852,  a  copy  of  the  constitution  of  the  Boston 
Society  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Rev.  C.  M.  But- 
ler, Rector  of  Trinity  Episcopal  Church  of  Washington. 
The  peculiar  needs  of  the  young  men  of  Washington 
seemed  to  Dr.  Butler  to  demand  just  such  an  organiza- 
tion as  the  Boston  Constitution  described.  William 
Chauncy  Langdon,  who  had  recently  been  appointed 
from  Kentucky  an  Assistant  Examiner  in  the  United 
States  Patent  Office,  was  a  member  of  Dr.  Butler's 
church.  Dr.  Butler  placed  the  Constitution  of  the  Bos- 
ton Association  in  his  hands,  with  the  suggestion  that  a 
similar  work  was  needed  in  Washington.  After  con- 
siderable effort,  a  meeting  of  60  young  men  gathered  on 
June  loth,  1852,  in  the  Masonic  Hall,  to  consider  the 
matter  of  organizing  a  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion in  Washington.  This  was  accomplished  on  June 
29th,  by  the  adoption  of  a  constitution  similar  to  that  of 
the  Boston  organization.  In  August,  six  months  later, 
Mr.  Langdon,  who  was  made  Corresponding  Secretary 
of  the  new  Association,  visited  Boston  and  learned  with 
interest  that  there  were  already  seven  similar  societies 
in  America.  On  his  return,  he  planned  a  federa- 
tion of  these  societies  and  proposed  that  the  Washington 
Association  endorse  it.  The  meeting  was  an  animated 
one,  the  proposition  being  warmly  discussed.  The  idea 
was  finally  adopted  with  enthusiasm  and  a  committee 
appointed  to  report  on  the  project.  On  October  i8th, 
the  Washington  Association  almost  to  a  man  adopted  a 


130         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

resolution  favoring  some  form  of  union  with  the  other 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  of  the  nation,  and 
adding  to  its  own  constitution  an  amendment  granting 
members  of  other  Associations,  transiently  in  Washing- 
ton, the  privileges  of  the  Washington  organization. 

Polity  has  played  a  most  important  part  in  the  history 
of  all  organizations,  political,  social,  educational  and  re- 
ligious. Broadly  speaking,  polity  is  either  authoritative 
or  voluntary.  Certainly  in  all  forms  of  its  operation 
society  has  been  moving  away  from  the  military  cen- 
tralization in  church,  state,  industry,  school  and  family, 
which  characterized  early  periods  of  development,  and 
which  were  perhaps  essential  to  a  childhood  period  of 
humanity.  It  is  a  testimony  to  the  wisdom  of  its  lead- 
ers that  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  has  built 
up  a  voluntary,  not  an  authoritative  polity.  The  Salva- 
tion Army  is  the  one  marked  exception  of  an  extensive 
religious  organization  in  recent  years  erected  on  the 
military  principle,  but  this  is  explained  by  the  uncon- 
trolled class  among  which  it  labors.  Centralized  polity 
achieves  results,  voluntary  polity  makes  men.  It  is 
successful  to  just  the  extent  its  supporters  are  loyal  and 
self-controlled. 

Langdon's  name  will  be  forever  associated  with  the 
polity  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

Immediately  following  the  Association  meeting  in 
Washington,  of  October  i8th,  1852,  in  which  the 
plan  of  a  federation  was  adopted,  Mr.  Langdon  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  the  "  New  York  Association, 
proposing  that  that  society,  as  the  larger  and  more 
important,  should  take  the  lead  in  the  matter."  * 
No  reply  was  received  to  this  communication.  New 
York,  the  Association  destined  to  lead  the  Ameri- 
can movement  during  the  succeeding  periods  of  its  his- 
tory, was  sadly  indifferent  to  the  interest  or  possibility 

4  Early  story  of  the  Confederation,  page  9. 


THE  AMERICAN  MOl'EMENT  131 

of  the  work  at  large  during  these  first  years.  This  con- 
centration on  the  home  field  was  largely  due  to  the 
efforts  of  one  man,  who  made  the  New  York  local  work 
a  success  in  the  face  of  many  difficulties,  and  who  after- 
wards, as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Evangelical 
Test,  formed  the  one  theological  symbol  of  the  American 
Associations.  Dr.  Howard  Crosby,  then  a  professor  and 
writer,  who  afterwards  became  prominent  as  a  pastor 
and  as  Chancellor  of  the  University  of  New  York,  was 
the  leading  spirit  in  the  New  York  Association  at  the 
time.  For  three  years,  1856  to  1859,  he  was  its  presi- 
dent, and  by  his  vigorous  personality,  common  sense, 
and  clear  insight  he  held  the  Association  definitely  to 
its  main  purpose,  and  did  much  to  win  a  place  for  it 
among  the  institutions  of  the  American  metropolis.  He 
was  opposed  to  the  New  York  Association's  identifying 
itself  with  any  central  movement. 

Two  distinct  attitudes  toward  the  proposed  confeder- 
ation rapidly  developed.  The  strong  Associations,  Bos- 
ton, New  York,  Baltimore,  and  Brooklyn,  containing  one- 
half  of  the  entire  membership  in  the  country,  for  various 
reasons  were  unwilling  to  lend  their  adhesion  to  the 
plan  proposed.  The  smaller  Associations,  especially  in 
the  West,  became  more  and  more  favorable  to  some  form 
of  union.  It  was  a  difficult  matter  in  the  face  of  oppo- 
sition and  indifference  from  the  four  Associations  named 
to  make  much  progress. 

When  the  confederation  was  finally  established,  the 
New  York  Association  would  send  no  official  delegates, 
and  later  gave  its  adhesion  to  the  Central  Committee, 
merely  as  to  a  committee  of  correspondence.  The  posi- 
tion of  the  New  York  Association  is  seen  from  its  action 
when  requested  to  entertain  the  second  convention  of 
the  Associations.  Professor  Crosby  replied  officially  to 
the  request,  that  the  New  York  Association  had  unani- 
mously decided  in  full  meeting  that  they  deemed  any 


132         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

convention  inexpedient,  and  declined  any  connection 
with  it.    The  reasons  given  for  this  position  were  stated : 
"  (i)  We  believe  conventions  draw  ofif  attention  from 
local  work,  and  our  institution  is  essentially  local. 

(2)  We  believe  they  foster  a  centralizing  spirit  at  war 
with  independent  action. 

(3)  We  believe  they  will  tend  to  produce  unpleasant 
scenes  and  ruptures  on  such  subjects  as  slavery. 

(4)  We  believe  the  expense  unauthorized  by  our  main 
object. 

(5)  We  believe  fraternal  feelings  between  the  Associa- 
tions may  be  better  cultivated  by  correspondence  and 
chance  visits." 

This  letter  is  characteristic  of  Dr.  Crosby,  and  illus- 
trated forcibly  the  position  maintained  by  the  New  York 
Association. 

His  real  objection  was  fear  of  division  over  the  slavery 
question,  which  later  caused  very  serious  disturbance  in 
the  New  York  Society  itself. 

Mr.  Langdon,  in  writing  of  this  period,  says:  "In 
fact,  without  being  as  yet  fully  conscious  of  it,  perhaps 
on  either  side,  two  Associations  were  representative  types 
of  two  distinct  principles. 

"  To  the  New  York  Society  its  work  and  purpose  were 
all  at  hand,  all  its  efforts,  attention,  and  interest  were 
concentrated  upon  the  home  work,  save  only  so  far  as 
occasion  might  from  time  to  time  involve  correspond- 
ence with  some  other  body.  The  Washington  Associa- 
tion, on  the  contrary,  whose  membership  was  gathered 
from  every  portion  of  the  Union,  with  thoughts  and 
prayers  divided  between  scenes  and  friends  at  home  and 
those  around,  became  even  more  naturally  the  exponent 
of  the  movement  for  a  national  organization."  ^ 

Not  discouraged  by  the  indifference  already  mentioned, 
Mr.  Langdon,  in  February,  1853,  addressed  another  com- 

5  Early  History  of  the  Confederation. 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  133 

munication  to  the  New  York  Association,  but  received 
no  reply.  Rev.  Dr.  Butler  brought  back  to  the  Wash- 
ington Association,  publications  of  the  London  Society, 
and  gave  a  glowing  account  of  its  work.  Mr.  Langdon 
now  corresponded  with  London,  Geneva,  and  Paris,  and 
visited  New  York,  Boston,  and  Baltimore,  to  propose  the 
publishing  of  an  American  Association  Journal.  The 
proposition  was  not  even  considered  by  Boston  or  Balti- 
more. The  New  York  Association  gave  Mr.  Langdon  a 
hearing,  after  which  Prof.  Crosby  frankly  stated  his  ob- 
jection to  the  proposition  and  the  Association  voted 
against  it.  Mr.  Langdon  did  not  for  a  moment  abandon 
the  project  of  a  national  union.  He  was,  at  the  close  of 
1853,  in  correspondence  with  18  out  of  the  22  American 
Associations,  and  early  in  1854,  he  prepared  a  careful 
account  of  the  Association  movement  throughout  the 
world,  which  then  included,  according  to  his  information, 
230  societies.  This  report  produced  a  deep  impression 
both  in  Washington  and  in  the  other  American  Associa- 
tions. It  showed  the  wide-spread  character  and  vigor 
of  the  movement.  The  Washington  Association  now 
proposed  if  any  other  Association  would  act  with  it,  to 
call  a  convention  of  delegates  of  all  the  Associations  in 
the  United  States  and  Canada,  to  consider  the  forming 
of  a  federation.  New  York  again  declined.  Buffalo,  how- 
ever, consented  to  unite  with  Washington  in  inviting 
such  a  convention  and  offered  to  entertain  the  gathering. 
A  few  days  later  the  Boston  Association,  though  it  after- 
ward refused  to  approve  the  acts  of  the  convention, 
agreed  to  unite  with  Washington  and  Buffalo  in  issuing 
the  call.  Circulars  were  sent  out  inviting  the  conference. 
Reference  was  made  to  the  alliance  of  the  Jiinglings- 
Verein,  existing  in  West  Germany,  to  a  Swiss  union 
which  had  just  been  completed,  and  to  the  alliance  of 
the  British  societies  as  branches  of  the  London  Society. 
The  circular  proposed  "A  convention  of  delegates  to  con- 


134  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

fer  together  relative  to  the  formation  of  an  American 
Young  Men's  Christian  Alliance,  a  union  of  independent^ 
equal^  but  co-operating  Associations^  to  secure  such  uni- 
formity of  organization  and  action  as  may  be  thought 
desirable."  ® 

It  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into  the  details  of  the  prep- 
aration for  this  important  gathering,  the  first  convention 
of  leaders  in  specific  work  for  young  men  in  an  English 
speaking  country  which  ever  assembled.  It  was  ten 
years  since  George  Williams  had  gathered  with  eleven 
others  in  the  little  bedroom  of  the  ware-house  in  St. 
Paul's  Churchyard.  Like  the  influence  from  that  earlier 
meeting  in  an  upper  chamber  at  Jerusalem,  the  influence 
of  this  little  group  of  young  men  had  already  reached 
widely  separated  sections  of  the  world,  and  now  from 
Portland,  Maine,  to  San  Francisco,  from  New  Orleans 
to  Toronto,  Canada,  representatives  were  gathering  to 
consider  how  to  inaugurate  on  a  plan  commensurate 
with  the  needs  of  a  continent,  the  work  of  moulding  the 
character  of  young  men.  The  delegates  were  all  young, 
there  was  scarcely  a  man  40  years  of  age  among  them  ; 
the  majority  were  under  30,  and  their  leader  was  only 
23  years  old.  There  were  37  delegates,  from  19  socie- 
ties; 34  of  these  delegates  were  laymen.  Buffalo  was 
not  stirred  by  the  presence  of  a  large  body  of  young  men. 
There  was  no  promise  of  the  great  conventions  of  later 
years,  which  should  attract  the  attention  of  the  Protest- 
ant world.  But  it  was  a  prophetic  meeting.  A  spirit  of 
harmony  and  fellowship  welded  into  one  the  hearts  of 
the  young  men  present,  as  on  the  first  evening  session 
they  united  in  singing  the  words  which  have  since  be- 
come the  convention  hymn  of  the  Associations,  "Blest  be 
the  Tie  that  Binds  our  Hearts  in  Christian  Love."  They 
felt  themselves  on  the  crest  of  a  victorious  movement, 

*  See  circular  calling  first  Convention,  First  American  Report, 
1854. 


THE  AMERICAN  MOIEMENT.  135 

and  their  convictions  were  voiced  in  the  reading  by  the 
delegate  from  Boston  of  the  Sixtieth  Chapter  of  Isaiah. 
"The  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand,  and  the  small 
one  a  strong  nation;  I,  the  Lord,  will  hasten  it  in  its 
time." 

The  convention  assembled  on  the  7th  day  of  June, 
1854,  in  the  rooms  of  the  Buffalo  Association.  Mr. 
George  W.  Helme,  of  New  Orleans,  as  a  pledge,  so  to 
speak,  to  the  South,  that  the  slavery  question  should  not 
be  discussed,  was  chosen  president.  New  York,  Balti- 
more and  Brooklyn  were  not  represented.  Boston  was 
represented  by  three  delegates,  who  sought  to  secure, 
for  future  conventions,  representation  in  proportion  to 
membership  in  behalf  of  the  large  city  Associations.  It 
was  largely  because  this  was  not  granted  that  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  convention  were  not  ratified  by  the 
Boston  Association. 

The  leaders  in  this  convention  were  from  Washington 
and  Cincinnati.  The  two  great  issues  were  the  forma- 
tion of  an  alliance  and  the  proper  object  to  which  the 
Associations  should  direct  their  efibrts.  Washinrton 
and  Cincinnati  took  the  same  position  on  both  issues, 
but  the  Washington  delegates  were  the  chief  advocates 
of  the  federation,  and  the  Cincinnati  delegation  of  mis- 
sion Sunday  School  work  as  an  object  for  Association 
endeavor.  Mr.  Langdon,  the  real  leader  of  the  conven- 
tion, was  delayed  and  did  not  arrive  until  the  second 
day.  A  motion  had  already  been  passed  which,  if 
allowed  to  remain,  would  have  defeated  the  idea  of  a 
confederation.  It  was  simply  a  recommendation  that 
annual  conventions  be  held,  and  a  committee  of  three 
be  appointed  to  publish  the  report.  On  the  second  day, 
Mr.  NefF,  of  Cincinnati,  and  Mr.  Langdon  moved  a  re- 
consideration of  this  decision,  and  most  earnestly  and 
eloquently  advocated  the  forming  of  an  alliance  that 
should  promote  with  vigor  the  work  of  winning  young 


136         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

men.  The  substitute  plan  brought  forward  was  finally- 
adopted  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  delegates  of  17 
Associations,  the  representatives  of  Boston,  who  at  first 
opposed  the  plan,  altering  their  votes  in  its  favor.  The 
resolutions  adopted  were  as  follows : 

Resolved,  i.  That  this  convention  recommend  to  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Associations  of  the  United  States  and  British 
Provinces  the  formation  of  a  voiuntar}'  confederation  for  their  mutual 
encouragement,  co-operation,  and  usefulness,  and  that  they  recom- 
mend that  when  22  Associations  shall  concur  in  the  plan  hereafter 
suggested,  the  said  confederation  shall  go  into  operation. 

2.  That  a  convention  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations 
of  the  United  States  and  British  Provinces  be  held  annually  at  such 
time  and  places  as  may  Ije  determined.' 

3.  That  while  it  would  oftentimes  be  judicious  to  discuss  in  con- 
vention principles  of  organization  and  action,  this  body  shall  have 
no  authority  or  control  over  tlie  local  aflFairs  of  any  Association. 

4.  That  a  Central  Committee  be  appointed,  to  consist  of  eleven 
members,  five  of  whom  shall  be  residents  of  the  city  where  the  com- 
mittee shall,  for  the  time  being,  be  located,  and  shall  be  members  of 
different  religious  denominations;  the  remaining  six  to  be  selected 
from  the  Associations  generally,  not  more  than  one  member  from 
any  one  Association. 

5.  That  the  Central  Committee  shall  maintain  correspondence 
with  American  and  Foreign  kindred  bodies,  promote  the  formation 
of  new  Associations,  and  collect  and  diffuse  appropriate  information, 
and  from  time  to  time  recommend  to  the  Associations  such  meas- 
ures as  may  seem  calculated  to  promote  the  general  object,  but  it 
shall  not  have  authority  to  commit  any  local  Association  to  any  pro- 
posed plan  of  action  until  approved  by  said  Association,  nor  to  assess 
any  pecuniary  rate  upon  them  without  their  consent. 

6.  That  the  Central  Committee  be  appointed  by  this  Convention 
and  continue  in  office  until  their  successors  are  appointed  by  a  sub- 
sequent convention. 

7.  That  the  Central  Committee  shall  ascertain  the  wishes  of  the 
different  Associations  in  regard  to  the  time  and  place  of  holding 
each  annual  convention,  and  shall  issue  the  call  as  nearly  as  possible 
in  accordance  therewith. 

By  the  adoption  of  these  resolutions  the  most  import- 
ant step  in  the  establishment  of  the  confederation  was 

'  Report  of  first  American  Convention,  1854,  page  36. 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  137 

accomplished.  A  committee  of  thirteen,  with  five  of  its 
members  resident  at  Washington  as  headqnarters,  was 
appointed,  and  Mr.  Channcy  Langdon  made  secretary 
of  the  committee.  Through  his  efforts,  by  January  15th 
of  the  following  year,  22  Associations  had  given  in  their 
allegiance,  and  the  confederation  became  a  fact.  The 
Associations  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  thus  began 
an  affiliated  organized  life.  The  organization  was  ex- 
ceedingly loose,  but  it  was  the  source  from  which  has 
developed  the  supervening  agencies  to  which  the  Ameri- 
can Associations  owe  much  of  their  usefulness.  From 
that  hour,  the  Association  began  to  awake  to  self-con- 
sciousness, and  to  feel  tlie  strength  of  unity  and  fellow- 
ship and  the  inspiration  of  a  great  mission. 

The  second  important  action  of  the  Buffalo  convention 
was  the  result  of  a  proposition  from  the  Cincinnati  dele- 
gation regarding  the  mission  of  the  Association.  Mr.  J. 
H.  Marshall,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Cincinnati  society, 
and  especially  active  in  its  mission  Sunday  School  work, 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  first  day  introduced  a  resolution 
recommending  that  the  Associations  of  America  engage 
in  Union  Sunday  School  work,  and  the  formation  of 
adult  Bible  classes.  The  matter  was  referred  for  con- 
sideration to  a  committee,  of  which  Mr.  Marshall  was 
made  chairman.  The  morning  of  the  second  day  of  the 
convention,  the  committee  made  an  extended  report. 
Mr.  Marshall  spoke  earnestly  in  behalf  of  Bible  instruc- 
tion for  both  children  and  adults.  His  address  made  a 
deep  impression  on  the  convention.  An  earnest  discus- 
sion followed,  in  which  the  measure  was  favored  by  all 
except  delegates  from  Pittsburgh  and  Toronto.  The 
report  as  finally  adopted  was  as  follows: 

"  The  committee  to  whom  were  referred  the  resolutions 
from  the  Cincinnati  delegation  w^ould  respectfully  report: 

"  That  they  have  considered  the  subject  of  mission 
w^ork  among  the  masses,  and  in  accordance  with  the 


138  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRIST/.  IX  .ISSOC/AT/ON. 

spirit  and  action  of  the  lyondon,  Boston,  and  Cincinnati 
Associations,  would  recommend  the  establishment  of 
Sunday  Schools  and  the  organization  of  adult  Bible 
classes,  as  the  initiative  of  this  great  work. '  It  appears 
to  the  committee  that  this  would  be  peculiarily  the 
legitimate  work  of  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations. 
The  committee  would,  therefore,  recommend : 

"  That  this  General  Convention  of  Associations  recom- 
mend to  the  various  local  Associations  the  establish- 
ment of  at  least  one  Mission  vSunday  School,  to  be  the 
agent  and  creature  of  the  Association ;  also  of  adult 
Bible  classes,  where  practicable,  to  form  the  nucleus  of 
enlarged  future  missionary  efforts,  of  the  same  and  kin- 
dred character,  among  the  masses  of  the  population  of 
our  large  cities."  """ 

The  adoption  of  these  resolutions  gave  a  decided  im- 
petus to  the  spiritual  work  of  the  Associations.  This 
was  not  the  beginning  of  Sunday  School  work  as  a 
feature  of  the  Association's  activity,  but  it  emphasized 
it  as  one  of  the  chief  objects  of  Association  endeavor, 
and  thus  led  the  Associations  to  deviate  from  their 
original  and  proper  purpose — the  winning  of  young  men. 

There  was  another  important  matter  which  came  up 
for  consideration  at  this  convention.  There  were  three 
great  questions,  upon  whose  right  solution  the  future  of 
the  American  Association  depended.  The  first  was  the 
mission  of  the  society;  second,  the  condition  of  mem- 
bership in  the  Association ;  and  third,  the  relation  of 
the  Association  to  the  Evangelical  churches.  The 
second  of  these  questions  came  up  for  discussion  at 
this  convention.  An  examination  of  the  Associations 
represented  showed  that  the  conditions  of  membership 
were  not  uniform;  two  Associations  opened  their  mem- 
bership to  all  young  men  of  good  moral  character. 
One,  Cleveland,  required  that  officers  be  members  of 

^*  First  American  Convention  Report,  1854,  p.  28. 


THE  AMERICAN  MOVEMENT.  13'.) 

Evangelical  churches.  One,  Cincinnati,  admitted  to 
membership  only  members  of  Evangelical  churches. 
The  larger  number,  however,  followed  the  example  of 
Boston  and  admitted  two  classes  of  members ;  active, 
young  men  who  were  members  of  Evangelical  churches ; 
associate,  young  men  of  good  moral  character;  only 
active  members  being  allowed  to  vote  or  hold  office.  A 
delegate  from  Cleveland  introduced  a  resolution  recom- 
mending to  the  various  Associations  the  Boston  plan, 
that  active  membership,  with  the  privilege  of  voting  and 
holding  office,  be  restricted  to  members  of  Evangelical 
churches.  This  resolution,  principally  because  the  con- 
vention feared  it  would  be  regarded  as  an  interference 
with  the  affairs  of  local  Associations,  was  amended  be- 
fore adoption  to  read  as  follows : 

'■^Resolved,  That  while  we  agree  in  the  importance  of  an  evangel- 
ical basis  for  the  operation  of  our  Associations,  and  while  we  look 
to  members  of  these  churches  for  our  leading  and  governing  in- 
fluences, and  in  order  to  preserve  the  Christian  element,  we  recom- 
mend that  such  only  should  hold  office,  or  vote  on  alterations  of  the 
constitution;  this  convention  is  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that  the 
qualifications  for  the  different  kinds  of  membership  can  be  best  de- 
termined by  each  Association  for  itself,  as  being  the  best  judges  of 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  that  uniformity  of  action  cannot, 
without  greater  experience,  be  asked  or  expected  of  our  Associations 
by  this  convention."  * 

This  indefinite  action  was  without  doubt  the  wisest 
course  that  could  have  been  taken  at  the  time.  The 
American  Associations  were  destined  after  years  of  ex- 
perience to  demonstrate  anew  that  the  surest  way  to 
build  noble  and  solid  character  in  young  men  was  by 
standing  unfalteringly  on  the  evangelical  basis.  They 
learned  later  that  this  very  position  would  make  them  a 
welcomed  auxiliary  to  the  church  and  secure  them  the 
favor  of  the  ministry  and  of  benevolent  and  earnest 
laymen. 

'  Report  First  Convention,  1854,  page  59. 


140  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

Mr.  Langdon,  at  the  close  of  the  convention,  gave  a 
careful  address  on  the  Association  movement  through- 
out the  world.  Mr.  Helme,  of  New  Orleans,  the  presi- 
dent, as  he  rose  to  announce  the  adjournment,  said: 
"He  rejoiced  at  the  successful  issue  of  the  convention. 
Great  fears  were  entertained  that  it  would  be  the  scene 
of  wrangling  and  strife,  that  sectional  issues  would  be 
agitated,  causing  an  adjournment  without  action  on 
many  of  the  important  topics  for  which  it  conferred. 
No  agitation,  however,  of  these  questions  has  taken  place, 
and  the  convention,  embracing  delegates  from  Maine  to 
California,  has  met  and  adjourns,  bound  in  heartfelt  ties, 
strengthened  manifold  by  even  the  short  time  they  had 
been  together.  Should  the  Associations  persevere  in 
their  annual  assemblage,  the  ythof  June,  1854,  would 
be  remembered  with  pride  and  gratification."  Thus  was 
accomplished  the  forming  of  the  Confederation,  the  be- 
ginning of  the  affiliated  life  of  the  American  Associa- 
tions. 

The  New  World  at  the  beginning  of  1855  presented 
the  spectacle  in  36  of  its  leading  cities  of  organized 
groups  of  young  men,  varying  in  membership  from  50 
to  2,500,  inspired  by  a  love  for  Jesus  Christ,  eager  to  grow 
in  spiritual  life,  and  for  the  most  part  devoting  their 
energies  to  win  the  young  men  of  American  cities  to  the 
same  allegiance.  These  groups  of  young  men  were 
further  united  to  each  other  by  unity  of  origin  and  of 
organization,  and  by  the  bonds  of  a  voluntary  federation. 
It  has  been  said  the  first  period  of  American  Association 
History  extended  from  1 851  to  1866,  when  the  American 
Associations  became  more  thoroughly  organized.  Two 
important  steps  of  this  early  period  were  completed  by 
January  i8th,  1855 — the  founding  of  the  movement  in 
America  under  the  leadership  of  Boston  and  Montreal, 
and  the  establishment  of  the  Confederation  under  the 
leadership  of  William  Chamicy  Langdon,  of  Washington. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

POUNDING    OF     THE     CONTINENTAL    ASSO- 
CIATION. 

Sec.  i8. — General  Conditions  on  the  Continent. 

We  turn  from  the  restless,  aggressive  industrial  com- 
munities of  the  New  World  to  the  more  conservative 
and  military  atmosphere  of  the  European  Continent. 
The  most  prominent  contrast  presented  by  Protestant- 
ism is  the  union,  almost  the  subjection  of  the  Church  to 
the  Government.  The  Church  is  the  department  of  the 
State  devoted  to  the  maintenance  of  religion  as  other 
departments  are  devoted  to  maintain  education  or  the 
army. 

Americans  can  hardly  appreciate  the  different  atti- 
tude which  Europeans  take  upon  this  question.  It  is 
largely  a  matter  of  heart  and  a  conviction  that  it  takes 
away  the  character  of  Christian  from  a  nation  to  sepa- 
rate the  Church  from  the  Government.  Even  republican 
Geneva,  on  July  4,  1880,  rejected  by  a  vote  of  9,300  to 
4,844  a  proposition  recommended  by  the  "  Great  Coun- 
cil "  to  bring  about  a  separation  between  the  Church  and 
the  State.  This  feeling  is  voiced  by  as  liberal  a  thinker 
as  Henri  Amiel,  who  penned  in  his  journal  on  the  day 
of  the  vote :  "  The  sun  has  come  out  after  heavy  rain. 
May  one  take  it  as  an  omen  on  this  solemn  day  ?  The 
great  voice  of  Clemence  has  just  been  sounding  in  our 
ears.  The  bells'  deep  vibration  went  to  my  heart.  For 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  pathetic  appeal  went  on . 
*  Geneva!  Geneva!     Remember!     I  am   called   Clem? 


142  rOCWC  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

ence.  I  am  the  voice  of  Church  and  of  Country.  Peo- 
ple of  Geneva,  serve  God  and  be  at  peace  together.'  "  ^ 
In  Europe,  the  hoary  traditions  of  the  past  confront 
every  new  movement  in  industrial,  political  and  relig- 
ious life.  The  Continent  has  an  atmosphere  of  its  own, 
and  it  is  not  surprising  that  movements  v/ith  the  same 
purpose  should  have  different  developments  in  the  two 
worlds,  the  old  and  the  new.  Protestant  effort  on  the 
Continent  naturally  centers  in  Germany,  the  "heart  of 
Europe,"  "the  land  of  the  Reformation."  It  is  here 
that  the  endeavor  to  mold  the  character  of  young  men 
has  had  its  chief  European  development.  Next  to  Ger- 
many, the  center  on  the  Continent  from  which  the 
movement  has  exerted  an  influence  is  Geneva,  the  pres- 
ent headquarters  of  the  World's  Federation  of  Young 
Men's  Christian  Associations.  The  Continental  socie- 
ties are  more  limited  in  the  range  of  their  activities  than 
the  American  or  British,  but  this  is  due  more  to  a  lack  of 
financial  resources  than  to  a  different  conception  of  the 
aim  of  the  Associations.  The  Geneva  Association  and 
the  societies  which  were  influenced  by  it  in  their  origin 
trace  their  inspiration  to  the  London  movement.  The 
German  Jiinglings-Verein,  like  several  Scotch  and 
American  societies,  has  a  much  earlier  history  and  is 
unwilling  to  regard  the  London  Association  as  the 
founder  of  the  Association  movement.  Societies  of 
young  men  for  religious  and  moral  improveiYient  are 
very  old  ^  '^ — much  older  than  either  the  Jiinglings- 
Verein  of  Germany  or  the  Nasmith  movement  in  Scot- 
land and  the  United  States.  The  idea  of  organizing 
young  men  for  the  purpose  of  improving  themselves 
and  other  young  men  spiritually  certainly  did  not  origi- 

*  Amiel's  Journal,  English  Edition,  Mrs.  H.  Ward,  1893,  vol.  II., 
p.  29. 

^"Association  Hand-Book,  New  York,  1892,  pp.  30-35.    (See  Chap- 
ter on  "  History  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. "> 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     143 

nate  with  either  the  London  Association  or  the  German 
Jiinglings-Verein.  But  the  practical  application  of 
this  idea  in  a  form  which  was  destined  to  spread  over 
the  world  under  a  name  which  was  to  be  generally  ac- 
cepted, as  well  as  the  spiritual  power  to  compel  the 
acceptance  of  this  idea,  were  born  with  the  London 
society,  founded  by  George  Williams. 

It  was  the  movement  inaugurated  at  London  which 
has  marshalled  the  Christian  young  men  of  the  cities  of 
Protestantism  into  a  compact  organization  to  win  young 
men,  and  which  has  given  the  distinctive  character  to 
this  world-wide  institution. 

The  German  Associations  had  an  earlier  origin,  and 
have  evolved  a  method  of  operation  adapted  to  the  sur- 
roundings in  which  they  are  placed.  They  are  the  best 
and  most  vigorous  example  of  the  movement  on  the 
Continent 

The  Jiinglings-Verein  and  the  Christlicher  Verein 
junger  Manner  of  American  origin  are  the  result  of 
forces  in  the  German  Evangelical  Church,  nobly  striv- 
ing to  meet  the  needs  of  young  men  in  the  midst  of  new 
industrial  conditions. 

Sec.  19. — Preparation  in  the  German  Church, 

It  is  impossible  here  to  trace  adequately  the  develop- 
ment of  the  religious  forces  in  Germany  which  have 
created  the  characteristics  peculiar  to  the  German 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations. 

The  religious  condition  of  Germany  at  the  founding 
of  the  Jiinglings-Verein  was  the  result  of  a  long  strug- 
gle between  Rationalism  and  the  party  in  the  Church 
which  stood  for  practical  Christian  life  and  eflfort. 

The  Reformation  on  the  Continent  had  been  fol- 
lowed by  a  handing  over  of  the  Church  to  the  domi- 
nation of  the  various  civil  governments.     There  was 


144  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

no  ecclesiastical  organization,  as  in  England,  to  re- 
sist the  appropriation  by  the  State  of  the  management 
of  the  Church.  This  subjection  of  the  Church  to  the 
State  was  followed  by  the  reign  of  Rationalism  and 
a  prevalence  of  theological  discussion.^  Dr.  F.  W. 
Krummacher,  of  Berlin,  speaking  before  the  Evangeli- 
cal Alliance  in  1851,  said:  "Rationalism,  or  that 
form  of  theology  which  indicated  human  reason  as 
the  supreme  authority  on  religious  subjects,  denied 
supernatural  revelation,  and  the  necessity  of  salvation 
to  man,  disputed  that  God  was  able  to  work  miracles, 
and  only  accepted  Christ  as  the  teacher  of  natural  relig- 
ion and  of  a  better  morality,  ascended  from  the  mid- 
dle of  the  eighteenth  century  in  Germany  to  such  an 
extended  dominion  that  the  few  isolated  believers  in 
Revelation  began  seriously  to  fear  that  the  Lord  might 
have  determined  entirely  to  extinguish  from  his  holy 
temple  the  light  of  the  Gospel."^  On  account  of  its 
union  with  the  State,  the  Church  had  to  bear  the  brunt 
of  the  mistakes  of  the  civil  power.  Opposition  to  the 
Church  came  to  be  looked  upon  as  opposition  to  the 
Government.  The  Church  in  the  eyes  of  the  multitude 
was  responsible  with  the  State  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  existing  order  in  political  affairs.  For  this  reason 
republican  and  democratic  movements  on  the  Continent 
have  been  hostile  to  the  Church  and  religion.  The 
subjection  of  the  Church  to  the  State  has  made  the 
Church  the  supporter  of  conservative  and  monarchial 
institutions,  instead  of  leaving  it  free  to  minister  to  the 
spiritual  needs  of  the  people  and  bear  witness  to  the 
truth.  For  this  reason,  free  institutions  have  been  on 
the  Continent  so  largely  associated  with  irreligion,  and 
this  want  of  the  conserving  influence  of  religion  among 
the  democratic  parties  of  Germany  and  other  European 

^  Hase's  "History  of  the  Christian  Ch"ch, "English  Edition,  sec.  402. 
^  Alliance  Report,  1851,  p.  419. 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     145 

countries  has  often  made  those  parties  lawless  and  vio- 
lent. As  a  result  of  its  subjection  to  the  State,  and  the 
admission  of  unconverted  men  into  a  large  share  in 
church  government  and  the  consequent  reign  of  Ration- 
alism, religious  life  in  Germany  at  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century  and  the  beginning  of  this  was  at  a 
sadly  low  ebb.  The  Church  was  split  up  into  the  same 
small  political  divisions  as  the  Empire.  The  appoint- 
ment of  pastors  and  theological  professors,  and  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Church  were  in  the  hands  of  the  civil 
power.  Support  of  the  Gospel,  instead  of  being  a  volun- 
tary act  of  worship,  was  a  matter  of  taxation.  The 
simple  edict  of  the  King  of  Prussia  was  sufficient  to 
eflfect  in  1817  the  union  of  the  two  great  bodies  of  the 
Church  in  Prussia — the  Lutheran  and  the  Reformed. 
The  Church  was  looked  upon  simply  *'  as  the  religious 
element  in  the  State."  ^^  Pastors  held  an  official  relation 
to  their  people.  There  was  no  possibility  of  a  distinc- 
tion between  believers  and  unbelievers.  All  practical 
Christian  work  was  paralyzed  by  the  prevailing  teach- 
ing that  every  one  born  and  baptized  in  a  Christian 
country  is  a  Christian,  and  that  the  province  of  the 
Church  is  to  instruct  rather  than  to  convert.  It  is  not 
surprising  that  only  nine  to  ten  per  cent,  of  the  popula- 
tion in  the  country  districts  attended  church  and  from 
two  to  three  per  cent,  in  the  large  towns.  Fully  99  per 
cent,  of  the  children  were  baptized  and  93  per  cent,  of 
those  of  proper  age  were  confirmed,  but  it  was  esti- 
mated that  only  a  small  per  cent,  of  those  confirmed 
were  really  Christians.  Confirmation  was  looked  upon 
as  the  liberation  of  the  lad  from  school  and  parental  con- 
trol, and  often  celebrated  as  such.^  Young  working  men 
passed  almost  completely  out  from  under  the  influence 

'*  Fisher's    "History    of    the    Christian   Church,"    period    VI., 
chap.  5. 

*  "Die  Mission  an  den  Jiinglingen,"  by  J.  Hesekiel,  Berlin,  1864. 


146         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

of  the  pastors  after  confirmation  when  they  began  to 
earn  their  own  living  as  apprentices.  Two  prevailing 
sentiments  characterized  the  body  of  young  working 
men — "unbelief  in  the  Word  of  God"  and  "indiffer- 
ence and  hostility  to  the  Church."  The  French  Revo- 
lution had  done  much  by  awakening  aspirations  for  free 
institutions  among  the  people  to  arouse  opposition  to 
the  Church,  which  was  looked  upon  as  the  supporter  of 
royalty.  The  result  was  a  manifest  tendency  to  substi- 
tute philosophy  for  religion. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  had  always  existed  a 
party  in  the  German  Church  who  believed  in  Revela- 
tion, who  sympathized  with  a  practical  applica- 
tion of  Christianity  to  the  lives  of  individuals,  and 
who  were  active  in  works  of  love  and  benevo- 
lence. Spener  and  Franke,  who  were  the  founders  of 
the  Orphan  Home  at  Halle,  the  leaders  of  a  party  called 
in  reproach  the  Pietists,  the  Moravians  under  the  lead- 
ership of  Zinzendorf,  Hans  Hague,  John  Oberlin  and 
many  others,  had  by  example  and  teaching  proclaimed 
the  necessity  of  carrying  the  Gospel  to  individuals  and 
of  ministering  to  both  the  spiritual  and  temporal  wants 
of  men.  It  was  this  party  which  made  the  effort  to 
heal  the  distractions  caused  by  the  Napoleonic  wars, 
and  which  founded  the  various  agencies  for  infusing  the 
Gospel  into  the  life  of  the  people  and  caring  for  their 
necessities.  It  was  to  this  party  after  the  shock  of  1848 
to  which  Germany  turned,  under  the  leadership  of  Pas- 
tor T.  H.  Wichern,  the  founder  of  the  Inner  Mission, 
for  a  revival  of  faith  and  for  the  spiritual  power  to 
stem  the  forces  which  strove  to  overthrow  all  the  insti- 
tutions of  society. 

The  beginning  of  the  century  was  marked  by  the 
efforts  of  believing  men  in  all  parts  of  Germany  to  min- 
ister to  the  spiritual  and  temporal  necessities  of  their 
fellow   men.      Christian    H.    Zeller,    of    Wiirtemberg, 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     147 

founded  in  1820  a  voluntary  institution  for  training 
teachers  to  devote  themselves  to  the  instruction  of  poor 
children.  From  Basle,  Switzerland,  in  this  period, 
there  went  forth  an  influence  for  practical  Christian 
work.  Baron  von  Kottwitz  was  instrumental  in  estab- 
lishing after  the  depression  in  1806  agencies  for  furnish- 
ing work  for  the  unemployed.'*  Amiel  Sieveking,  dur- 
ing the  cholera  plague  in  Hamburg,  organized  a 
sisterhood  for  the  help  of  the  sick.  In  1825,  ^^^  ^^st 
Sunday-school  of  Germany  was  founded  at  Ham- 
burg. In  1833,  Pastor  Fliedner,  at  Kaisersworth,  with 
one  young  woman,  began  the  Deaconess  work  of 
Germany ;  in  1836,  he  organized  the  "  Rheinisch  West- 
falische  Diakonissen-Verein,"  which  has  been  the 
means  of  extending  the  Deaconess  work  over  Germany 
and  other  lands.  Fifty  years  have  achieved  marvelous 
results.  "  In  1894,  there  were  in  the  Evangelical 
cHurches  of  Germany  between  50  and  70  Deaconess 
homes.  The  number  of  the  deaconesses  was  about 
8,000,  who  were  engaged  in  a  great  variety  of  ac- 
tivities. Six  hundred  were  nurses  in  hospitals ;  130 
worked  in  poor-houses  and  infirmaries ;  700  as  parish 
helpers ;  100  in  orphanages ;  340  in  schools  for  small 
children,  the  rest  in  rescue  houses,  industrial  schools, 
homes  for  fallen  women,  blind  asylums  and  prisons."  ^ 

Many  other  institutions  for  the  amelioration  of  all 
classes  of  society  were  established  during  this  period, 
chief  of  which  was  an  institution  for  neglected  children, 
the  Rauhe  House,  at  Hamburg,  under  the  management 
of  Pastor  T.  H.  Wichern.  The  Revolution  of  1848 
opened  the  eyes  of  believing  Germans  to  the  misery 
and  irreligion  which  prevailed  throughout  the  Father- 

*  "  Leitfaden  der  Inneren  Mission,"  Theo.  Schafer,  Hamburg,  1893, 
sec.  8. 

^  "Werberufe  fiir  die  Arbeit  der  Inneren  Mission,"  Seyfarth,  I^eip- 
zig,  1804. 


148         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

land.  A  church  conference  was  called  in  September  of 
that  year  at  Wittenberg  to  consider  plans  of  meeting 
the  rising  tide  of  unbelief.  The  leading  figures  in  this 
conference,  which  was  attended  by  500  representatives, 
were  two  prominent  laymen  and  Pastor  T.  H.  Wichern, 
then  a  young  mission  worker  from  Hamburg.  This 
conference,  called  primarily  to  promote  a  spirit  of  har- 
mony and  union  between  all  parties  in  the  Church,  in- 
stead of  attempting  to  answer  the  dogmatic  questions 
by  which  the  Church  was  agitated,  endeavored  to  carry 
out  its  mission  by  fostering  the  practical  work  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  by  bringing  into  interrelations  the  various 
benevolent  and  philanthropic  agencies  already  estab- 
lished. In  1843,  a  phrase  had  come  into  current  use 
describing  these  agencies,  this  term  "  Innere  Mission  " 
was  now  formally  adopted,  and  the  "  Kirchentag  "  ap- 
pointed a  central  committee  to  foster  these  various 
agencies  throughout  Germany.  The  leading  member 
of  this  committee  was  the  man  already  mentioned,  who 
had  been  drawn  into  this  practical  work  through  super- 
intending a  Sunday-school  at  Hamburg,  Pastor  T.  H. 
Wichern.  This  central  committee,  by  the  calling  of 
conferences,  by  publications,  visitation  and  by  agitation, 
aroused  the  believing  elements  of  Germany  and  united 
them  in  building  up  a  vast  net-work  of  agencies  for  re- 
lieving suffering,  ignorance  and  misery,  and  bringing 
the  Gospel  to  all  classes  of  society.  At  the  Wittenberg 
Conference,  Pastor  Wichern  pointed  out  that  "against 
the  lawlessness  of  the  Revolution,  Christianity  and  the 
spirit  of  love  alone  had  prevailed."  He  declared  "  that 
the  great  social  questions  of  the  present  time  are  not  to 
be  solved  by  cannons  and  bayonets,  but  by  the  Word  of 
God."  At  the  Evangelical  Alliance  at  London,  in  1851, 
he  said :  "  The  Inner  Mission  seeks  to  engage  all  liv- 
ing Christians  in  its  works  of  usefulness ;  it  proceeds 
upon  the  principle  upon  which  the  Protestant  Church 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     149 

is  itself  founded,  the  universal  priesthood  of  Chris- 
tians." In  speaking  of  the  work  among  the  poor,  he 
said:  "An  impassable  gulf  has  arisen  between  the 
rich  and  the  poor.  No  stream  of  gold  can  fill  it.  It 
can  only  be  filled  by  the  love  which  is  born  of  God. 
What  we  should  give  to  the  poor  is  not  so  much 
money,  or  food,  or  clothing,  but  ourselves."  " 

The  Inner  Mission  embraces  Bible  societies,  city  mis- 
sions, Sunday  schools,  colporteurage.  Christian  lodging 
houses,  work  among  neglected  children,  criminals,  sea- 
men, the  poor,  the  unemployed,  and  the  helpless.  It  is 
a  work  independent  in  its  government  of  the  State 
Church,  and  supported  by  voluntary  contribution. 
Among  the  agencies  which  were  founded  during-  this 
first  period  of  Inner  Mission  work  was  the  German 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  which  sought  to 
hold  apprentices  after  confirmation  in  continued  loyalty 
to  the  Church.  The  anti-rationalistic  party  in  Germany 
at  the  beginning  of  the  century  began  to  answer  their 
opponents  more  and  more  by  deeds  of  love  and  practi- 
cal Christian  effort  among  the  people.  It  was  from  this 
party  that  the  inspiration  came  to  organize  the  Jiing- 
lings-Verein,  the  first  German  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association. 

Sec.  20. — Social  Conditions  in  Germany. 

A  profound  industrial  change  was  taking  place  among 
working  men.  This  is  not  the  place  to  discuss  the  es- 
tablishment of  new  relations  between  capital  and  labor, 
the  influence  of  the  discovery  of  new  methods  of  pro- 
duction and  new  means  of  transportation,  which  make 
modern  life  so  different  from  what  it  was  a  few  genera- 
tions ago.  The  important  fact  is  the  changed  social 
life  which  these  innovations  forced  on  Germany's  work- 
ing men.     The  boy  who  left  home  to  learn  a  trade  no 

"  Alliance  Report  for  1851,  p.  483. 


150  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

longer  lived  in  the  family,  ate  at  the  same  table,  or 
went  to  church  on  Sunday  morning  with  his  employer, 
as  his  father  had  done  before  him.  In  1786,  an  em- 
ployer in  Leipsic  stated  that  his  workmen  were  under 
agreement  "  to  go  to  church  once  on  Sunday,  and  never 
to  go  out  nights  without  his  permission."''  The  "mas- 
ter was  often  a  sort  of  priest  or  patriarch  for  his  house- 
hold." Between  1800  and  1820,  this  social  relation  be- 
came entirely  changed. 

Masters  began  to  employ  large  numbers  of  "  hands," 
often  of  both  sexes.  The  practice  of  "  binding  ap- 
prentices "  for  a  number  of  years  declined.  The 
working  men's  guilds  of  former  years  were  almost  ex- 
tinct. The  working  men,  especially  the  unmarried 
men,  became  a  roving^  class,  who  went  in  great  num- 
bers on  foot  from  city  to  city.  For  the  twenty  years 
previous  to  i860,  the  fluctuations  of  working  men  in 
Berlin  averaged  30,000  annually  ;  in  Frankfort  for  i860, 
it  was  8,000;  in  Kassel,  30,000.*  As  a  result  of  the  in- 
creased numbers  employed  by  one  master,  and  of  this 
nomadic  life,  the  cheap  lodging  house  made  its  debut. 
It  became  the  regular  home  of  the  young  working  man 
in  the  place  of  the  master's  family. 

The  young  workman's  bedroom  was  wretched  and 
dismal,  "  cold  in  winter  and  hot  in  summer."  "  Both 
sexes  were  often  herded  indiscriminately  together." 
"The  conscience  of  many  became  so  hardened  that 
they  defended  immorality  as  necessary  to  satisfy  na- 
ture." A  military  physician  states  that  in  a  country 
village  he  found  175  young  men  incapacitated  for 
service  on  account  of  impure  lives.  That  a  single  inci- 
dent of  such  a  character  occurred  shows  the  low  state 
of  public  sentiment  and  morals.     In  1855,  two-thirds  of 

"  Krummacher's  "Die  Bvangelischeu  Jiinglings-Vereine,"  pp.  2 
and  3. 

*  Die  Mission  an  den  Jiinglingen,  Dr.  Hesekiel,  pp.  3-7. 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     151 

all  the  working  men  of  Bonn  lived  in  cheap  lodging 
houses;  in  i860,  this  was  true  of  over  half  of  those  in 
Elberfeld.  The  young  working  man  had  ceased  to  be 
a  member  of  his  master's  family,  and  had  become  a 
homeless  wanderer,  surrounded  by  new  temptations, 
which  soon  arose  with  this  new  social  condition. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  during  this  period  the 
beer  halls,  whose  bright,  attractive  rooms  were  open  to 
all,  increased  with  alarming  rapidity.  Superintendent 
Hesekiel,  while  traveling  secretary  for  the  West 
Deutscher  Bund,  in  1862,  wrote  : 

"  These  beer  halls  became  the  source  of  unspeakable 
evil,  especially  to  5'oung  men.  In  1862,  in  Prussia  there 
were  45,000  beer  halls."  Dr.  Krummacher,  in  his  his- 
tory of  the  German  Jiinglings-Verein,  emphasizes  the 
fact  that  the  theatres  also  began  to  increase  in  number, 
and  to  present  demoralizing  French  plays.  The  theatre 
and  beer  hall  became  the  social  resort  of  the  young 
working  man  of  the  cheap  lodging  house.  Dr.  Hesekiel 
says :  "  This  manner  of  life  drove  the  working  man, 
already  disposed  to  unbelief,  still  farther  away  from  the 
Church." 

It  was  to  meet  this  condition  of  aflfairs  that  a  church 
without  the  evangelistic  spirit  called  the  Jiinglings- 
Verein  into  existence.  It  was  not  a  movement  to 
evangelize  young  men  so  much  as  a  noble  effort  to  find 
a  home  for  the  homeless  young  working  men  of  Ger- 
many and  bring  them  under  Christian  influence.  Its 
religious  work  was  devotional  instruction,  and  it  aimed 
to  hold  young  men  who  had  been  confirmed  in  contin- 
ued allegiance  and  fellowship  with  the  Established 
Church.  "  The  movement  had  the  twofold  purpose  of 
bringing  young  men  back  into  Christian  fellowship 
through  the  Word  of  God  and  to  overthrow  their  indif- 
ference and  unbelief." 


152       young  men's  christian  association. 
Sec.  21. — Origin  of  the  Junglings-Vereine.  ^ 

In  1708,  a  Swiss  minister,  named  Pastor  Mayennock, 
established  a  religious  association  for  the  young  men  of 
his  congregation  at  Basle,  which,  while  it  was  suspended 
between  the  years  1820  to  1825,  may  properly  be  called 
the  forerunner  of  the  Jiinglings-Vereine  of  Germany. 
This  Basle  society  was  composed  of  nine  unmarried 
brethren,  who  had  five  rules  of  discipline.  They  agreed 
"  (i)  to  abide  strictly  by  the  teaching  of  the  Word  of  God 
and  the  apostolic  faith ;  (2)  to  shun  all  sectarianism 
and  anything  that  might  seduce  to  it  ;  (3)  each  one 
shall  be  true  toward  God,  himself,  and  all  men  ;  (4) 
each  shall  have  the  pri\'ilege,  shall  even  be  under  ob- 
ligation to  reprove  and  remind  the  others  of  their 
faults ;  (5)  especially  shall  each  one  take  care  never  to 
tell  evil  stories  about  the  others,  that  good-will  toward 
one  another  may  be  strengthened." 

From  these  regulations  it  will  be  seen  that  the  ob- 
jects of  the  society  were  solely  spiritual  and  moral. 
There  were  neither  written  laws,  constitution,  nor  or- 
ganization. It  was  simply  a  fellowship  meeting  of 
young  men  with  their  pastor. 

During  the  first  three  decades  of  the  century  the 
longing  to  do  something  for  young  men  is  seen  in  the 
number  of  societies  of  a  similar  character  to  this  move- 
ment at  Basle,  which  sprang  up  independently  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  Germany,  notably  at  Stuttgart  and  El- 
berfeld.  They  are  evidence  of  a  growing  conviction 
that  special  effort  for  young  men  was  needed,  and  are 
a  recognition  of  the  new  conditions  and  temptations 
surrounding  them. 

*"  Fifty  Years  of  Work  for  Young  Men,"  London,  1894,  p.  274. 
Krummacher's  "  Die  Evangelischen  Jiinglings-Vereine,"  Kap.  3. 
"  Die  Jiinglings-Vereine  in  Deutschland,"  D.  v.  Gertzen,  Heilbronn, 
1886,  Sec.  2.  "  Die  Jiinglings-  und  Jungfrauen-Vereine,"  Schwan- 
beck,  Gotha,  1890,  Chap.  III. 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     153 

In  the  year  1833,  Dr.  Frederick  Mallet,  of  Bremen, 
during  a  summer  visit  to  Switzerland,  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  simple  movement  among  the  young 
men  at  Basle.  It  appealed  to  him  as  being  just  the 
needed  organization  to  hold  young  men  after  confirma- 
tion. When  he  returned  home,  he  published  an  ac- 
count of  this  society,  with  an  appeal  for  a  similar  work. 
The  people  of  his  congregation  became  interested. 
"  Two  rooms  were  rented  in  the  center  of  the  city 
which  were  soon  filled  to  overflowing  with  men  and 
young  men  of  different  callings."  Dr.  Mallet  saw  very 
quickly  that  religious  teaching  alone  was  not  sufficient 
to  accomplish  his  purpose.  The  working  men  had  no 
homes  or  elevating  social  surroundings  for  their  leisure 
hours,  and  many  of  them  had  but  little  education.  It 
was  decided  to  add  amusements  or  "  entertainment,"  as 
it  was  styled,  and  instruction.  In  1834,  there  was  or- 
ganized in  Bremen  the  first  Jiinglings-Verein,  or 
Young  Men's  Union,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  young 
men  devotional,  social  and  intellectual  opportunities. 
Its  aim  was  embodied  in  the  following  statement,  which 
is  still  used  in  West  Germany  : 

It  shall  be  the  object  of  this  association,  (i),  "  to 
foster  under  the  direction  and  influence  of  the  Word 
of  God,  Christian  sentiments  and  godly  conduct 
among  our  young  men  ;  (2),  to  oppose  as  much  as  pos- 
sible all  the  perils  which  beset  young  men  through  the 
temptations  of  the  world,  particularly  through  the  beer 
halls  ;  (3),  to  unite  young  men  in  Christian  union  and 
fellowship  ;  (4),  through  the  increase  of  their  knowl- 
edge to  enable  them  to  be  more  skillful  in  their  daily 
work  ;  (5),  to  serve  sick  and  destitute  young  men  by 
relief  and  attendance." 

These  three  departments — intellectual,  social  and 
devotional — rapidly  became  the  leading  characteristics 
of  the  new  association,  which  soon  enrolled  300  mem- 


154  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

bers,  and  was  given  a  home  in  the  new  parish  building 
of  the  city.  In  organization,  the  Bremen  Verein  was 
substantially  like  the  Jiinglings-Vereine  of  to-day. 
The  constitution  contained  three  features,  a  president, 
usually  a  pastor;  the  managing  committee,  which  were 
chosen  from  the  membership,  with  often  some  older 
men  who  were  interested  in  the  work ;  the  membership 
consisting  of  all  young  men  of  the  parish  who  desired 
to  unite  with  the  society.  The  majority  were  young 
working  men  under  twenty-five  years  of  age.  It  was  a 
compact,  simple  organization,  with  three  definite  ideas ; 
a  practical  movement  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the 
times.  It  satisfied  the  aspiration  of  the  better  spirits 
among  the  young  working  men,  and  gave  them  some 
needed  comforts  and  opportunities ;  it  helped  the  pas- 
tors to  hold  many  young  men  who  were  slipping  away 
from  their  influence.  It  was  a  recognition  of  the  act- 
ual conditions  surrounding  young  working  men  and 
the  duty  laid  upon  followers  of  Jesus  Christ.  This 
movement  soon  began  to  attract  attention  as  a  practical 
effort  to  help  young  men. 

In  1836,  a  young  mechanic  from  Mecklenburg,  who, 
while  at  work  at  his  trade  in  Bremen,  had  become 
interested  in  the  new  Jiinglings-Verein,  arrived  in 
Barmen  in  search  of  employment.  At  Barmen,  he  be- 
came acquainted  with  a  young  business  man  named  K. 
F.  Klein,  and  told  him  of  the  efforts  Pastor  Mallett  and 
others  were  making  in  behalf  of  the  young  men  of 
Bremen,  Herr  Klein  was  a  business  man  of  earnest 
Christian  faith,  who  devoted  himself  constantly  to 
Christian  work.  He  immediately  resolved  to  attempt  a 
similar  organization  in  Barmen.  The  beginning  of  this 
movement  in  Barmen-Elberfeld  reminds  one  of  a  simi- 
lar endeavor  inaugurated  but  a  short  time  previously 
among  the  young  men  of  Glasgow  by  David  Nasmith. 
On  his  birthday,  Herr  Klein  invited  a  number  of  young 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     155 

men  like-minded  with  himself  to  his  home,  and  in  this 
little  circle  of  close  friends  explained  the  movement 
inaugurated  in  Bremen,  and  proposed  that  they  under- 
take a  similar  work  for  Barmen  young  men.  The 
young  men  received  the  idea  with  enthusiasm  and  de- 
termined to  establish  a  Jiinglings-Verein.  Frederick 
Klein,  who  was  destined  for  fifty  years  to  devote  him- 
self to  the  cause  of  helping  young  men,  was  made 
president  of  the  little  Barmen  society.  His  untiring 
zeal  has  made  this  one  of  the  leading  associations  of 
Germany.  Even  in  his  old  age  he  was  accustomed  to 
visit  the  lodgings  of  the  young  working  men,  and  the 
'*  Herberge  zur  Heimat,"  in  order  personally  to  invite 
the  men  whom  he  met  to  the  religious  services  of  the 
Association.  In  1828,  two  years  later,  a  Jiinglings- 
Verein  was  established  at  Elberfeld,  now,  by  the 
growth  of  population,  practically  one  city  with  Barmen. 
Pastor  Doring,  a  devoted  Christian  man,  had  already 
by  faithful  preaching  and  efforts  among  young  men 
prepared  the  way  for  a  successful  work.  A  young  man 
named  Anton  Haason  was  chosen  president.  Herr 
Haason  was  a  man  of  the  same  zeal  and  earnestness 
as  Frederick  Klein.  Dr.  Krummacher  says  of  him : 
*'  With  his  warm  heart  he  encircled  young  people,  and 
we  may  well  say  that  a  stream  of  living  water  has 
gone  forth  from  him  to  all  young  men."^*^ 

The  Associations  of  these  two  cities  were  closely  af- 
filiated. Under  the  leadership  of  Klein  and  Haason, 
they  soon  became  the  center  of  the  Jiinglings-Verein 
cause  in  Germany.  Their  membership  increased  rap- 
idly. The  best  methods  of  association  work  were  de- 
veloped here,  and  Elberfeld  and  Barmen  have  ever  since 
been  the  leaders  in  forming  the  constitution  and  policy 
of  the  Jiinglings-Verein  movement  of  Germany, 
Jiinglings-Vereine  were  organized  in  1839  in  Karlsruhe, 

^'  Die  Evangelische  Jiinglings  Vereine,  p.  39. 


15t)  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

and  in  1842,  at  Ronsdorf.  The  president  of  the  last 
named  Verein,  Pastor  Diirselen,  was  one  of  the  leaders 
in  the  early  Verein  work.  He  was  editor  of  the  first 
association  paper,  president  of  the  first  provincial  or- 
ganization of  Jiinglings-Vereine,  and  was  a  delegate 
to  the  first  convention  of  associations  of  all  lands,  in 
1855.  A  number  of  associations  on  the  Bremen  model 
were  now  organized  in  different  parts  of  Germany.  By 
1844,  th^  year  of  the  founding  of  the  London  Associa- 
tion, there  were  some  ten  Jiinglings-Vereine  in  Ger- 
many, under  the  leadership  of  Frederick  Klein,  Anton 
Haason,  and  Pastor  Diirselen.  Associations  now  sprang 
up  in  widely  separated  sections  of  the  Fatherland. 
Reports  of  the  work  were  published  in  the  organ  of 
the  ''  Innere  Mission,"  at  Hamburg,  which  attracted  the 
attention  of  many  earnest  men.  The  movements  of 
the  times  and  the  prevalence  of  irreligion  among  the 
working  men  demanded  new  efforts  on  the  part  of 
Christians.  Especially  was  attention  directed  to  the 
large  numbers  of  unmarried  young  men  of  the  working 
classes  who  traveled  about  in  search  of  employment. 
Already  the  scattered  Jiinglings-Vereine  felt  the  need 
of  union,  and  showed  a  growing  sense  of  the  import- 
ance of  the  great  mission  they  had  undertaken.  In 
1847,  in  the  organ  of  the  "  Innere  Mission,"  the  follow- 
ing open  letter  appeared  addressed  to  all  the  Jiinglings- 
Vereine  of  Germany  : 

"  Announcement  to  the  Christian  Handworkers'  and 
Junglings-Vereine. 

"  The  Christian  Handworkers'  and  Jiinglings-Vereine  of  Berlin, 
Gartz,  Stettin,  and  Greifenhagen  in  Pommern,  send  greeting  to  all 
kindred  associations  among  their  German  Brethren  far  and  near. 

"'  Although  you  are  mostly  unknown  to  us,  it  has  been  for  a  long 
time  our  heartfelt  wish  to  enter  into  fellowship  and  loving  relation- 
ship with  you.  We  have  already  experienced  the  joy  and  blessing 
which  fellowship  with  a  few  associations  can  give,  and  we  are  eager 
for  the  richer  fellov.ship  of  a  wider  circle.     It  is  natural  and  neces- 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     157 

sary  that  every  association  like  ours  should  reach  out  its  hand  to 
brother  societies.  Our  chief  purpose  is  to  help  young  men  of  the 
industrial  classes,  especially  those  who  are  among  strangers  and 
wandering  in  search  of  work.  We  seek  to  warn  and  protect  them 
against  the  many  seductions,  temptations  and  moral  pitfalls  of  life, 
and  to  build  them  up  in  honor  and  Christian  character.  To  accom- 
plish this  we  must  be  united.  Therefore  every  association  which 
agrees  with  us  in  the  couvictiou  that  faith  in  Christ  is  the  only 
foundation  of  morality  and  that  to  turn  to  Him  is  their  onl)'  hope 
for  the  future,  and  for  the  redemption  of  these  evils  of  society,  is 
invited  to  enter  into  relation  with  one  of  the  undersigned  associa- 
tions, either  by  correspondence  or  by  publishing  information  in  this 
paper  ^,Die  Fliegende  Blatter),  or  in  any  other  suitable  manner. 
We  know  already  that  many  of  our  German  Brethern  are  of  one 
mind  with  us,  and  therefore  we  hope  that  this  call  will  find  a 
friendly  response  in  many  hearts.  We  are  rejoiced  to  learn  that  in 
many  foreign  cities  where  Germans  are  living,  Paris,  London,  and 
even  Constantinople,  Vereine  exist  which  are  like  our  own.  At 
home  in  the  German  Fatherland,  from  Basle  to  Bremen  and  Ham- 
burg, from  the  Rhine  to  Prussian  Konigsberg,  many  Vereine  with 
the  selfsame  purpose  exist,  but  are  unacquainted  with  each  other. 
Let  us  learn  to  know  each  other  and  draw  into  a  closer  union. 
When  this  has  been  accomplished,  we  can  decide  how  best  we  may 
work  together.  In  the  meantime,  we  commend  our  cause  to  the 
gracious  almighty  protection  of  God.     February,  1847." 

This  letter  was  signed  by  the  Junglings- Vereine  of 
Stettin,  Gartz,  and  Greifenhagen,  and  also  by  two  asso- 
ciations of  similar  character  in  Berlin,  The  Elberfeld 
Verein  immediately  published  the  following  answer : 

•'  Circular  letter  of  the  Christian  Association  of  young  mechan- 
ics and  factory  workers  of  Elberfeld  to  the  kindred  societies  of  Ber- 
lin, Stettin,  Gartz,  and  Greifenhagen  in  Pommern  : 

"  We  send  our  heartfelt  greetings  to  our  dear  Brethren. 

"  With  great  joy  we  have  read  your  letter  of  greeting,  and  we 
cannot  conceal  how  much  it  has  quickened  our  hearts.  *  *  *  * 
The  need  is  truly  great.  Wichern  has  well  said  :  '  He  who  lets  his 
son  go  as  an  apprentice  among  strangers,  sends  him  forth  into  a 
wilderness  in  which  thousands  have  wandered  from  the  right  course 
of  life.  Hundreds  of  doors  which  lead  to  destruction  stand  open 
through  which  young  men  are  drawn.'  *  *  *  «  The  facts  he  re- 
lates of  the  life  of  mechanics  is  appalling. 

"  Oh,  Brethren !  where  such  a  mass  of  misery  and  sin  abounds, 
shall  we  not,  with  God's  help,  make  an  effort  to  overcome  it?  *  *  *  * 


158  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

We  rejoice  at  the  opportunity  to  share  our  work  with  you.  Our  as- 
sociation is  similar  to  your  own.  Mechanics  and  factory  employees 
are  united  in  an  association,  of  which  twelve  members  are  chosen  by 
ballot  as  an  executive  committee.  The  officers  of  this  committee 
are  a  president,  treasurer,  and  secretary,  who  have  regular  meetings 
to  consider  the  interests  of  the  society.  In  the  association  rooms 
are  Bibles,  books  and  writing  material ;  educational  classes  and  lec- 
tures are  also  provided  to  improve  the  members.  Now  that  we  have 
come  into  relation  with  you,  we  feel  the  necessity  of  naming  an  in- 
dividual member  to  whom  traveling  workmen  on  their  arrival  in 
our  city  may  apply.  Will  j'ou  please  give  any  workmen  among 
your  membership  who  may  be  journeying  hither,  a  letter  of  intro- 
duction to  Anton  Haason,  who  shall  give  such  an  one  information, 
not  only  concerning  our  association,  but  such  other  knowledge  as 
he  may  need  during  his  stay  in  our  city.  We  would  also  ask  that 
as  soon  as  possible,  you  act  likewise,  since  the  summer  months  are 
near  at  hand,  in  which  the  workmen  are  accustomed  to  travel. 
*  *  *  *     Dated  May,  1847." 

lu  July  of  the  same  year,  the  Junglingsbote^  the  first 
paper  devoted  to  the  association  cause,  was  established. 
Pastor  Diirseleu,  of  Ronsdorf,  became  its  editor.  Then 
came  the  Revolution  of  1848,  which  startled  all  Ger- 
many. Whatever  we  may  think  of  its  political  char- 
acter, it  certainly  aroused  the  Evangelical  believers  of 
Germany  to  the  irreligious  condition  of  the  masses  of 
the  population.  The  leaders  of  the  Jiinglings-Vereine 
felt  that  they  must  unite  if  they  were  to  make  any 
progress  in  winning  young  men  in  the  face  of  organi- 
zations which  had  sprung  up  with  the  avowed  purpose 
of  propagating  infidelity.  In  August,  a  number  of 
leaders  of  the  Vereine  met  in  Elberfeld  to  consider 
plans  for  a  distinct  organization.  This  informal  gath- 
ering issued  a  call  for  a  meeting  of  delegates  from 
Jiinglings-Vereine  to  assemble  in  Elberfeld  in  October 
of  184S.  Nine  associations  from  Westphalia  sent  rep- 
resentatives, who,  on  the  8th  of  October,  formed  the 
Rhenish  Westphalian  Alliance  of  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Associations,  under  a  district  committee,  with 
headquarters  at  Elberfeld.     Pastor  Diirselen  was  made 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     \h% 

President,  a  position  he  continued  to  occupy  with  un- 
tiring service  for  twenty-five  years,  during  which 
thousands  of  young  men  have  been  blessed  by  this  or- 
ganization. His  address  before  this  conference  gives 
us  some  idea  of  the  situation  which  occasioned  the 
movement  towards  union.  He  said  :  "  h.  spirit  of 
wickedness  has  burst  forth  among  us.  The  tempest  of 
revohition  has  torn  from  our  eyes  a  veil  that  obscured 
a  dreadful  abyss  into  which  we  now  look  with  horror. 
We  see  with  apprehension  how  the  spirit  of  lawlessness 
has  hurled  thousands  of  our  young  men  into  the  vortex 
of  ungodliness,  lawlessness  and  immorality,  from  which 
the  worst  is  to  be  feared.  We  hear  how  hundreds  of 
societies  of  young  men  have  been  formed,  from  which 
come  forth  the  challenge  — '  We  hate  Christianity. 
God  must  be  discarded,  we  will  never  rest  until  every 
comrade  has  personally  renounced  God.'  Therefore 
we  ask  ourselves,  what  can  we  do  in  the  face  of  this 
spectacle  ?  Let  us  resolutely  determine  to  establish  a 
Christian  union  of  young  men,  and  thus  stretch  forth  a 
net  with  which  we  may  rescue  many  from  this  whirl- 
pool of  destruction."  ^ 

The  yearly  festival  of  Westphalian  Churches,  held  at 
Elberfeld,  became  the  occasion  for  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  delegates  from  the  Vereine  of  West  Germany. 
This  gathering  at  which  the  Bund  Committee  was 
chosen,  the  work  of  the  year  reviewed,  and  religious 
services  for  young  men  conducted,  became  a  center  of 
great  influence  in  extending  the  Verein  cause.  Many 
pastors  who  came  to  the  church  festival  learned  of  the 
Verein  work. 

In  1850,  a  Jiinglings- Verein  on  the  Bremen  model 
was  established  in  Berlin,  then  a  city  of  400,000  inhab- 
itants. This  was  an  important  advance.  In  1853,  the 
West    Bund   organized    its   territory   into   small    sub- 

^  Krummacher's  "Die  Evangelischen  Jiinglings- Vereine,"  p.  46. 


160  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

districts,  with  from  eight  to  twenty  associations  in  a 
district.  This  did  much  to  solidify  the  movement,  and 
with  the  annual  festival,  was  really  a  valuable  system 
of  supervision. 

By  the  close  of  the  "  formative  period  "  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  the  cause  of  the  Jiing- 
lings-Vereine  had  made  rapid  progress  in  Germany. 
During  the  seven  years  following  the  organization  of 
the  Westfalische  Bund,  a  large  number  of  Vereine 
were  established  in  West  Germany.  The  methods  and 
purpose  of  the  Jiinglings-Vereine  of  this  period  may 
be  learned  from  the  report  given  by  Pastor  Durselen, 
at  the  Paris  Convention.  He  said  :  "  These  associations 
have  combined  in  themselves  several  distinct  objects. 
First,  they  are  designed  as  Christian  refuges  for  young 
men.  Second,  they  are  places  of  Christian  nourishment 
and  religious  instruction.  Through  their  Bible  exercises 
and  their  devotional  and  other  meetings,  they  aim  at 
supplying  the  young  men  with  this  essential  need. 
Third,  they  are  places  for  intellectual  training.  The 
young  men  attending  them  belong  principally  to  the 
class  of  artisans  and  hand  laborers.  It  is  an  important 
object  of  the  association  to  provide  those  of  the  mem- 
bers who  may  need  it  with  that  instruction  which  will 
fit  them  for  their  civil  duties.  Fourth,  they  are  de- 
signed to  connect  Christianity  with  social  life,  recogniz- 
ing that  in  every  man  there  exists  a  social  instinct." 

"To  attain  this  fourfold  end,  it  is  felt  by  all  that  the 
association  must  be  based  upon  a  purely  Christian 
foundation." 

"  This  having  been  firmly  laid,  we  admit  to  our  soci- 
ety all  who  will  conform  to  our  rules.  Conversion  is 
the  grand  aim,  but  it  is  not  made  the  condition  of  ad- 
mission. Once  a  week  a  Bible  class  is  held  in  all  the 
associations ;  this  is  generally  conducted  in  a  conversa- 
tional manner."     "There  are  special  singing  classes." 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     161 

"  In  each  of  the  associations,  one  evening  is  set  apart  for 
instruction.  Provision  is  made  also  for  lectures  and 
other  means  of  mental  improvement.  To  maintain  the 
social  character  of  our  society,  we  have  promenades, 
fetes  and  annual  meetings.  A  very  important  provision 
is  that  of  the  Christian  Herberge,  or  homes  for  the  trav- 
eling apprentices  or  others.  They  are  furnished  with 
one,  two,  three,  or  four  beds,  according  to  the  size  of 
the  place,  as  well  as  with  food.  Instead  of  being  driven 
to  the  wretched  lodging  houses  in  which  many  of  the 
traveling  apprentices  and  journeymen  are  compelled  to 
stay,  they  can  find  within  the  precincts  of  the  associa- 
tion a  home,  until  they  may  have  obtained  employ- 
ment. In  all  these  Christian  homes,  a  mild  but  strict 
discipline  is  enforced."  Speaking  of  the  Rhenish 
Westphalian  Union,  Dr.  Diirselen  said :  "In  the  year 
1848,  the  first  of  the  general  unions  of  these  different 
associations  was  formed.  Nine  at  first  joined  the 
Union,  now  it  numbers  130  associations,  and  includes 
at  least  6,000  young  men.  If  these  are  not  all  con- 
verted, they  are  at  least  under  the  influence  of  the  Word 
of  God,  and  are  surrounded  by  the  counsels,  prayers  and 
exhortations  of  living  Christian  brothers."  ^ 

"At  the  head  of  the  Union  there  is  a  committee.  By 
visitation  and  correspondence,  this  central  committee 
maintains  a  constant  connection  with  all  the  associa- 
tions. The  committee  meets  at  Elberfeld.  Once  in 
the  year,  at  Elberfeld,  a  general  meeting  is  held  of  the 
associations.  It  is  a  pleasing  sight  to  see  at  this  meet- 
ing seven  or  eight  hundred  young  men,  from  all  sec- 
tions, who  have  come  to  take  part  in  its  hallowed  en- 
joyment. The  highest  authorities,  both  civil  and  ec- 
clesiastical, have  expressed  their  sympathy  with  the 
work  in  many  ways.  In  most  parishes,  the  pastors  and 
teachers  take  an  active  part  in  the  associations." 

^  Report  of  Paris  Convention,  1855,  pp.  54-6. 


162       young  men's  christian  association. 

Sec.  22. — Geneva  and  Paris. 

Politically  and  religiously,  Geneva  lias  long  main- 
tained an  independent  attitude  toward  the  rest  of 
Europe.  Her  people  are  patriotic,  and  have  the  self- 
reliance  of  leadership.  Their  estimate  of  themselves 
may  be  seen  in  the  words  of  their  poet  philosopher, 
Amiel,  "  Geneva  is  certainly  one  of  those  world  anvils 
on  which  numbers  of  projects  have  been  hammered 
out.  The  explanation  is,  that  Geneva,  republican, 
protestant,  democratic,  learned  and  enterprising  Ge- 
neva, has  for  centuries  depended  on  herself  alone  for 
the  solution  of  her  own  difficulties.  It  pleases  me  that' 
she  has  not  yet  become  a  mere  copy  of  anything.  This  is 
a  proof  of  her  vitality. "  ^ 

The  Christian  young  men  of  Geneva,  as  early  as  1836, 
used  to  associate  together  for  prayer  and  various  works 
of  charity.  For  ten  years  there  was  such  concert  of 
action  among  a  small  number.  In  1847,  a  group  of 
young  men,  after  prayer,  decided  to  devote  themselves 
especially  to  win  young  people  to  a  religious  life.  Their 
work  prospered,  and  they  were  given  a  room  for  their 
meetings  by  the  Geneva  "  Evangelical  Society."  ^ 

In  this  year,  they  became  acquainted  with  similar 
attempts  at  Rheims  and  Amsterdam,  and  immediately 
opened  correspondence  with  the  societies  in  those 
cities.  As  knowledge  of  these  societies  came  to  them, 
they  extended  their  correspondence.  They  also  at- 
tempted to  hold  religious  meetings  for  young  people 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Geneva.  These  unorganized 
efforts  were  attended  with  considerable  difficulty,  and 
the  movement  was,  in  1851,  in  danger  of  extinction 
when  it  was  brought  into  contact  with  the  London  work 
directly,  by  correspondence,  and  indirectly,  through  the 

3  Amiel's  Journal,  Vol.  II.,  p.  301. 
*  Paris  Conference  Report,  p.  48. 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     163 

influence  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of 
Paris/ 

Mr.  George  Williams  was  now  thirty  years  of  age, 
and  had  become  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  George 
Hitchcock  «&  Co.  His  interest  in  Christian  work  for 
young  men  had  increased  year  by  year.  In  1850,  dur- 
ing a  business  trip  to  Paris,  he  called  upon  Pasteur  J.  P. 
Cook,  one  of  the  Protestant  ministers  of  the  city,  and 
urged  him  to  do  definite  work  for  young  men.  As  a 
result,  Mr.  Cook  associated  himself  with  some  students 
who  were  already  in  the  habit  of  meeting  for  religious 
exercises,  and  soon  a  band  of  eighteen  young  men 
were  united  together  for  mutual  spiritual  edification. 
In  December,  185 1,  Mr.  Williams  again  visited  them 
and  encouraged  them,  but  reminded  them  that  they 
were  doing  nothing  for  the  multitudes  of  young  men 
who  came  to  Paris  and  there  lost  their  religious  im- 
pressions.*^ They  ought  to  be  aggressive  and  organ- 
ize themselves  for  the  purpose  of  directing  their  efforts. 
Having,  however,  a  dread  of  organization,  they 
made  objections  which  Mr.  Williams  succeeded  in 
removing,  by  relating  what  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  was  doing  in  London.  A  com- 
mittee was  formed,  which  after  mature  deliberation 
drew  lip  a  plan  of  organization.  This  was  then  sub- 
mitted for  approval  to  several  pastors.  The  name 
which  they  chose  for  themselves  was  "  Union  Chretienne 
des  Jeunes  Gens."  At  length,  on  the  19th  of  March, 
1852,  twelve  young  men  met  together,  and  having  de- 
clared their  faith,  enrolled  their  names  as  members  of 
the  proposed  association.  This  was  the  first  French 
Union  ever  formed.  The  Geneva  young  men  by  cor- 
respondence had  already  become  acquainted  with  the 
London  work,  and  this  organization  of  an  association 

'  Paris  Report,  p.  49. 
*  Paris  Report,  p.  39. 


164  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIA  TION 

at  Paris  encouraged  the  young  men  of  Geneva  to  maice 
a  similar  effort.  After  advising  with  the  secretary  of 
the  Ivondon  Association,  the  young  men  who  had 
previously  been  associated  together  decided  to  organ- 
ize. "A  provisional  committee  drew  up  regulations, 
chose  a  suitable  location,  and  on  the  ist  of  Decem- 
ber, 1852,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of 
Geneva,  consisting  of  30  members,  was  founded,"  Merle 
D'Aubigne  was  among  those  who  assisted  materially  in 
this  movement.  The  rooms  of  the  new  society  were 
open  every  evening  and  frequented  by  between  150  and 
200  young  men.  The  number  of  members  soon  in- 
creased to  80.  Every  year  a  general  assembly  of  the 
members  was  held.  Several  members  devoted  to  the 
work  of  the  Association  went  out  as  delegates  to  visit 
the  south  of  France,  Paris,  and  Alsace.  "  During  the 
winter  months,  a  gathering  of  some  sort  was  held  on  each 
evening  of  the  week."  ^  For  the  most  part,  the  meetings 
were  of  a  religious  character.  Through  the  influence  of 
Geneva,  the  small  unions  of  young  men  in  France  and 
Switzerland,  so  far  as  they  were  large  enough,  organized 
themselves  into  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations. 
The  Geneva  Association  extended  its  correspondence  to 
Associations  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  In  1853,  this  work 
had  become  so  extended  that  it  was  carried  on  largely 
by  means  of  printed  circulars.  In  August,  1853,  the 
first  communication  was  established  between  Geneva 
and  the  United  States.*  Delegates  from  other  countries 
visited  Geneva,  and  much  was  done  to  promote  a  friendly 
intercourse  between  the  Associations  of  the  world. 

Sec.  23. — Summary. 

By  1855,  at  nearly   200  points  on   the  Continent  of 
Europe,  with   Elberfeld  and  Geneva  as  leaders,  there 

^  Paris  Report,  p.  48. 

*  Langdon's  Early  Story  of  the  Confederation,  page  27. 


FOUNDING  OF  CONTINENTAL  ASSOCIATION.     165 

were  small  groups  of  Christian  young  men,  enrolling  in 
all  some  7,800  members,  organized  for  the  definite  pur- 
pose of  improving  themselves  and  their  associates  spir- 
itually, intellectually  and  socially.  These  groups  aver- 
aging much  smaller  in  size  than  the  Associations  of 
England  or  America,  they  had  smaller  financial  resources 
and  fewer  friends  of  influence  and  distinction.  Their 
work  was  more  largely  among  the  humbler  classes  of 
young  working  men,  and  the  average  membership  was 
younger  in  age,  but  they  were  animated  by  the  same 
purpose  and  had  perhaps  a  deeper  spirit  of  devotion, 
though  less  evangelistic  zeal. 

Not  only  was  there  a  movement  among  young  men  on 
the  Continent  of  Europe,  but  already  the  Association 
idea  was  rallying  young  men  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 
There  were  now,  one  society  in  Algiers,  three  in  Aus- 
tralia, one  at  Constantinople,  and  in  1854,  a  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  was  organized  by  students 
at  Bey  rout,  Syria.  ^ 

'  First  American  Report,  1854,  page  48. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  FORMATION  OF  THE  WORLD'S 
ALLIANCE. 

Sec.  24. — The  Paris  Convention,  August,  1855. 

We  have  seen  how  the  idea  of  young  men  associating 
themselves  together  for  the  improvement  of  all  young 
men,  spiritually,  mentally,  and  socially,  had  gradually 
taken  root  in  widely  separated  sections  of  the  world.  A 
common  purpose,  common  difficulties,  a  common  faith, 
with  many  societies  a  common  origin,  above  all  a  com- 
mon need  of  sympathy  and  mutual  support,  overcame 
the  barriers  of  language,  nationality,  difference  of 
church  relationship,  and  distance,  and  drew  these  young 
men  irresistibly  together.  The  idea  of  a  world  organi- 
zation of  young  men  devoted  to  elevating  the  young 
men  of  the  world  was  hammering  out  a  social  force 
that  was  to  wield  a  mighty  influence,  and  though  the 
great  work  of  the  Association  has  really  been  accom- 
plished since  1880,  it  was  during  these  years  of  hope, 
experiment  and  sacrifice  that  the  foundations  were  laid. 
Letters,  chance  visits,  regularly  appointed  delegates, 
printed  circulars,  journals,  and  conferences,  in  Germany 
and  America,  had  aroused  a  feeling  of  unity,  and  had 
awakened  a  desire  for  concerted  action.  Between  the 
years  1851  and  1855  the  London  Association  had  grown 
in  strength,  confidence,  and  prestige.  In  1851,  just  as 
the  v/ork  began  to  assume  the  proportion  of  a  world-wide 
endeavor,  the  noble  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  whose  name 
has  been  identified  with  so  many  social  movements  for 
the  elevation  and  ameliorating  of  the  condition  of  the 


FORMATION  OF  THE  WORLD'S  ALLIANCE.        167 

oppressed  classes  in  England,  accepted  the  presidency 
of  the  London  Association,  a  position  he  was  to  hold 
until  his  death,  in  1885. 

The  activity  of  the  London  Association  during  the 
great  Industrial  Exhibition  did  much  to  inform  visitors 
from  foreign  lands  concerning  its  plans,  aims,  and  work. 
Messrs.  W.  Edwyn  Shipton,  T.  H.Tarlton,  George  Will- 
iams and  T.  H.  Gladstone,  in  various  ways,  through 
letters,  visits,  and  addresses,  helped  to  awaken  a  spirit 
of  fellowship  between  the  widely  scattered  Associations ; 
but,  above  all,  the  location  of  the  London  Association 
in  the  commercial  metropolis  of  the  world  enabled  it 
frequently  to  entertain  representatives  from  Associations 
of  the  various  countries  in  which  the  movement  had 
taken  firm  root.  In  this  way,  the  London  Society  be- 
came almost  unconsciously  the  headquarters  of  this 
rapidly  spreading  movement  of  which  Mr.  Williams  and 
Mr.  Shipton  were  the  natural  leaders.  Mr.  Shipton  was 
a  man  of  broad  mind,  with  a  grasp  on  affairs — an  ener- 
getic executive,  of  powerful  frame  and  strong  will,  with 
oratorical  gifts  and  intense  devotion  to  the  cause  of 
young  men.  For  thirty  years  he  was  the  faithful  secre- 
tary of  the  Central  London  Association,  and  one  of  the 
most  important  factors  in  the  world-wide  work.  He 
carried  on  a  correspondence  with  New  York,  Washing- 
ton, Boston,  and  the  various  Associations  in  Europe. 
He  prepared  in  1855  the  firsthistory  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  which  was  published  in  volume  i 
of  the  Exeter  Hall  Lecture  Series. 

The  Association  at  Paris,  of  which  Pasteur  J.  Paul 
Cook  was  the  leading  spirit,  gradually  extended  its 
influence,  and  in  connection  with  the  society  at 
Nismes,  which  traced  its  origin  to  Geneva,  pushed 
the  Association  idea  among  the  Protestant  commu- 
nities of  France.  ^  ^   Correspondence  was  kept  up  between 

*°  Shipton's  History  Exeter  Hall  Lectures,  vol.  I. 


168         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

these  meetings  and  the  Paris  Association.  In  these 
friendly  letters  the  desire  was  expressed  for  a  con- 
ference, in  which  leaders  in  the  different  Associations 
of  France  might  meet  face  to  face.  The  year  of  the 
Industrial  Exhibition  at  Paris  in  1855  furnished  a  fa- 
vorable opportunity  for  such  a  gathering.  This  confer- 
ence being  determined  upon,  the  expectation  of  visitors 
from  all  lands  at  the  exhibition  suggested  the  idea  of  a 
world  convention  of  delegates  from  foreign  as  well  as 
French  Associations.  ^  The  Evangelical  Alliance,  which 
had  held  its  first  great  gathering  with  some  800  repre- 
sentatives from  all  Protestant  nations  at  London  during 
the  World's  Fair  of  1851,  had  determined  to  call  a  similar 
assembly  to  meet  in  Paris  from  August  23  to  August  30, 
during  the  Paris  Exposition.  The  committee  of  the 
Paris  Young  Men's  Association  chose  the  days  August 
19th  to  24th  for  the  Association  conference,  in  order 
that  where  it  would  be  desirable  the  same  person  might 
be  a  delegate  to  both  gatherings.  This  was  a  very  for- 
tunate arrangement.  Thirty-seven  of  the  delegates  to 
the  convention  were  also  delegates  to  the  alliance,  and 
18  other  delegates  to  the  alliance,  who  were  members 
of  Associations,  attended  sessions  of  the  convention. 
The  program  of  the  conference  announced  that  op- 
portunity would  be  given  to  consider  a  proposition  from 
America  concerning  a  system  of  international  corre- 
spondence, and  that  the  conference  would  be  especially 
devoted  to  considering  reports  of  the  work  of  the  Asso- 
ciations in  all  lands.  The  invitation  sent  out  by  the 
Paris  society  met  with  a  cordial  response.  It  appealed 
to  the  growing  sense  of  unity  among  the  scattered 
organizaions  of  Europe  and  America,  and  such  coun- 
tries as  were  able  decided  at  once  to  be  represented. 
The  conference  assembled  in  the  rooms  of  the  Paris 

1  Young  Men's  Christian    Association   Hand  Book,  New   York, 
1892,  p.  442. 


FORMATION  OF  THF  WORLD'S  ALLIANCE.        169 

Association  on  Sunday  evening,  August  19,  1855. 
Fifty  representatives  were  present  at  the  first  session, 
which  was  devoted  to  prayer  and  consecration.  This 
number  was  afterwards  increased  to  97  representatives 
of  Associations,  35  of  whom  were  regularly  accredited 
delegates  to  the  convention.  Associations  from  36  Eu- 
ropean cities  of  seven  different  nationalities  sent  90 
representatives.  Seven  delegates  were  present  from 
America,  three  being  from  New  York,  three  from  Phil- 
adelphia, and  one  from  Newark,  New  Jersey.  The  con- 
ference was  not  only  representative  of  the  chief  associa- 
tions in  existence,  but  the  leaders  of  the  work  were 
present  to  give  character  to  its  proceedings  and  weight 
to  its  decisions.  George  Williams,  W.  Edwyn  Shipton, 
T.  H.  Tarlton,  and  T.  H.  Gladstone  were  among  the 
representatives  from  the  London  Association.  They 
took  an  important  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  convention  ; 
especially  Mr.  Shipton,  who  at  the  critical  moments 
spoke  the  word  and  made  the  suggestion  which  brought 
harmonious  action. 

The  leaders  of  the  American  delegation  were  Rev. 
Abel  Stevens,  of  New  York,  and  George  H.  Stuart,  of 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Stevens  was  a  minister  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church,  who  had  been  active  in  laying  the  foun- 
dation of  the  New  York  Association,  in  which  he  had 
served  as  vice-president  and  chairman  of  an  important 
committee.  Mr.  Stuart  was  president  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Association,  and  was  destined  in  a  few  years  to 
gain  national  distinction  in  America  as  president 
of  the  United  States  Christian  Commission  during  the 
Civil  War.  The  two  prominent  delegates  from  Germany 
were  Pastor  Diirselen,  the  president  of  the  Westfa- 
lische  Union,  and  K.  P.  Klein,  president  of  the  Jiing- 
lings-Verein  of  Barmen.  From  Switzerland,  the 
leaders  were  Max  Perrot  and  Edward  Barde,  from 
Geneva,  and  Pasteur  Chas.  Cuenod,  from    Lausanne. 


1 70  VO  C/A  G  31  EN 'S  CHRIS  TIA  X  ASSOC  I  A  TION. 

Pasteur  J.  Paul  Cook,  of  Paris,  who  had  been  the  chief 
factor  in  arranging  the  conference,  was  in  grateful 
acknowledgment  chosen  its  president. 

Like  the  American  gathering  at  Buffalo  of  the  year 
before,  this  unobserved  conference  of  young  men  did 
not  attract  much  comment  from  the  Church  or  State, 
but  the  young  men  themselves  were  impressed  with 
the  conviction  that  they  were  pioneers  in  a  great  cause. 
A  spirit  of  earnestness  and  hope  prevailed  in  all  the  ses- 
sion, and  though  it  was  the  first  conference  of  represent- 
atives from  widely  separated  countries,  so  harmonious 
were  the  proceedings  that  the  resolutions  of  the  con- 
vention were  adopted  unanimously.  The  report  says : 
"  The  first  session,  which  v;as  to  many  the  first  oppor- 
tunity of  meeting  face  to  face  brethren  whose  names 
and  whose  deeds  have  long  been  familiar,  was  conse- 
crated to  prayer.  Friendship  was  sealed  by  devotion, 
and  many  voices  in  French  and  English  were  raised  to 
the  Lord  to  implore  His  blessing.  A  deep  feeling  of 
their  oneness  as  Christians,  of  their  common  brother- 
hood as  well  in  faith  as  in  labor,  pervaded  this  gather- 
ing from  many  lands." 

Two  days  were  devoted  to  hearing  addresses  and 
reports  of  the  origin  and  progress  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Associations  in  the  various  countries  repre- 
sented. These  reports  give  a  true  picture  of  the  move- 
ment in  1855.  They  show  that  in  Great  Britain,  espe- 
cially in  London  and  Glasgow,  in  the  eastern  cities  of 
America,  in  Westphalia  and  the  Rhine  provinces  of 
Germany,  and  in  Geneva  there  was  a  strongly  en- 
trenched Christian  sentiment  in  favor  of  organized  effort 
to  help  young  men,  spiritually,  intellectually,  and  so- 
cially. This  sentiment  had  crystallized  into  organiza- 
tions of  young  men,  who,  standing  on  an  evangelical 
platform,  were  endeavoring  to  discover  the  best  methods 
for  accomplishing  their  purpose.     The   movement   as 


FORMATfOX  OF  THE  WORLD'S  ALLIANCE.       171 

yet  was  more  exclusively  religious  in  its  character  than 
in  later  years,  and  provided  less  for  other  needs  of 
young  men.  It  was,  however,  less  definite  in  its  aim. 
The  two  purposes  expressed  at  the  convention  were : 
First,  the  development  of  Christian  activity  among  the 
members  of  the  Associations,  and,  second,  the  conver- 
sion of  young  men.  The  development  of  activity  in 
Christian  work  among  the  members  had  led  the  Asso- 
ciations in  many  places  to  devote  their  energies  to  other 
classes  in  society  instead  of  concentrating  on  the  "  ex- 
tension of  Christ's  Kingdom  among  young  men." 

The  British  Associations  at  this  time  (1855)  possessed 
the  best  organization,  with  the  most  complete  financial 
resources,  the  greatest  social  prestige,  and  the  most 
marked  evangelistic  zeal.  They  gave  a  large  place  to 
the  study  of  the  Bible  and  were  the  most  careful  in  con- 
centrating their  eflforts  upon  young  men. 

The  American  Associations,  though  only  four  years 
old,  were  larger  in  membership,  more  aggressive,  less 
.spiritual,  with  a  greater  variety  of  activities, — a  national 
organization,  a  stronger  emphasis  upon  the  need  of  bet- 
ter social  surroundings  for  j'oung  men,  a  greater  empha- 
sis upon  religious  meetings  than  Bible  study,  and  a 
disposition  to  devote  their  energies  to  various  classes  of 
society. 

The  Continental  Associations  were  much  smaller  in 
size,  were  not  confined  to  cities,  poorer  in  financial  re- 
sources, deeper  in  devotional  spirit,  more  inclined  to 
limit  their  activities  to  improving  the  membership  of 
their  societies,  given  to  Bible  study  and  social  fellow- 
ship. Few  of  the  continental  societies  provided  places 
of  resort  for  young  men  not  members,  but  in  Germany 
much  attention  was  devoted  to  providing  lodging  houses 
for  young  workmen  away  from  home. 

The  numerical  strength  of  the  movement  is  presented 
in  the  Report  of  the  Paris  covention,  August,  1855. 


172  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

Continent  of  Europe. 

Germany 130  Associations 

Switzerland  ....    54  " 

France 49  " 

Holland 10  " 

Belgium  and  Italy  .      3  " 


.  .  6000  Members 

.  .   700 

" 

.  .   700 

<( 

.  .   400 

« 

.  .   60 

(( 

7S60 

(( 

.  .  8500 

(1 

.  .  14000 

c< 

Total  for  Continent  246  " 

British   Isles    ...    47  " 

U.  S.  and  Canada .    36  " 

Total   in  World  .    .  329  "  30360  " 

The  average  American  society  enrolled  380  young 
men,  the  British  180,  and  the  Continental  40.  Conti- 
nental Europe  enrolled  about  one-fourth  of  the  mem- 
bership of  the  Associations  in  1855,  and  has  maintained 
a  similar  relation  to  the  movement  ever  since.  At  the 
time  of  the  Paris  convention  there  was  not  a  single  paid 
officer  on  the  Continent  who  devoted  his  whole  time  to 
the  work,  and  probably  less  than  a  dozen  in  England 
and  America. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  the  third  evening  of  the  con- 
vention, Pasteur  Cuenod,  of  Lausanne,  "  proposed  the 
adoption  of  the  system  of  general  correspondence  first 
suggested  by  Mr,  Chauncy  Langdon,  of  Washington, 
United  States."  ^  America,  which  was  destined  soon 
by  increased  membership,  wealth,  and  the  large  num- 
ber of  its  general  secretaries,  to  share  with  London  the 
leadership  in  the  Association  cause,  already  took  an 
active  part  in  the  general  movement.  As  early  as  Feb- 
ruary 22d,  1854,  Mr.  Chauncy  Langdon  had  sketched 
in  outline  to  the  Washington  Association  "  a  scheme 
of  international  correspondence,  in  which  there  should 
be  a  center  of  information  for  every  national  group 
of  Associations,  each  center  being  in  direct  corre- 
spondence with  all  others,  furnishing  them  on  the 
one    hand    information   from    its   own   field   and    dis- 

-  See  Paris  Report,  1855,  p.  iS. 


FORMATION  OF  THE  WORLD'S  ALLIANCE.       173 

tributing  in  turn,  to  the  Associations  of  its  own 
national  group,  the  information  so  received  from 
abroad."  ^  Mr.  Langdon  wrote  to  the  London  and 
Geneva  Associations  proposing  this  plan  of  corre- 
spondence. The  Geneva  Association  endorsed  it  and 
in  a  printed  circular  suggested  it  to  the  Associations  • 
in  a  more  enlarged  form.  Pasteur  Cuenod  expressed  to 
the  convention  his  approval  of  this  plan  of  correspond- 
ence and  moved  that  the  conference  recommend  it  to  the 
Associations.  The  general  idea  was  warmly  advocated 
by  Messrs.  Tarlton  and  Shipton  of  London,  Mr.  Stev- 
ens of  New  York,  and  Dr.  Diirselen  of  Germany.  It 
was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  committee.  W.  Ed- 
wyn  Shipton,  to  carry  out  this  proposition,  proposed  the 
following  resolution:  "That  the  conference  having 
resolved  upon  a  system  of  general  correspondence  by 
means  of  centres  in  each  country,  recommend  the  fol- 
lowing cities  as  centres  for  their  respective  countries, 
subject  to  confirmation  of  the  Local  Associations : 

London  as  centre  for  England. 

Edinburgh  centre  for  Scotland. 

Dublin  centre  for  Ireland. 

Paris  and  Nismes  for  France  and  Belgium,  and 

St.  Gall  for  Switzerland. 

Amsterdam  as  centre  for  Holland. 

Elberfeld  and  Stuttgart  as  centres  for  Germany. 

Washington  and  New  York  as  centres  for  United  States ; 
and  that  the  British  Colonies  in  America  and  Australia 
be  corresponded  with  separately  and  the  Waldensian 
Valleys,  the  Associations  in  the  Levant  and  other  out- 
lying places,  be  corresponded  with  through  Geneva." 
Representatives  present  were  appointed  from  the  differ- 
ent nations  to  see  that  this  resolution  was  carried  out, 
and  W.  Edwyn  Shipton,  of  London,  was  appointed  to 
receive  from  the  various  Associations  the  announcement 

*  Early  Story  of  the  Confederation,  p.  27. 


174         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

of  their  adhesion  to  this  plan,  and  as  soon  as  their  re- 
plies were  received  to  inaugurate  the  correspondence. 
This  practically  recognized  Mr.  Shipton  as  the  leader  in 
the  world's  work.  "  By  his  talents  and  his  force  of  char- 
acter he  gathered  around  him  a  nucleus  of  friends  with 
whom  he  was  in  the  habit  of  taking  counsel  after  the 
Paris  Conference.  Chosen  from  among  the  most  active 
and  well-known  workers  of  various  countries,  these  men, 
the  first  representatives  of  the  international  idea,  formed 
practically  the  first  International  Committee,  though 
without  any  definite  organization."  * 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  August  22nd,  the  supreme 
moment  of  the  conference  was  reached.  The  delegates 
had  come  from  various  lands,  from  various  church  com- 
munions, they  spoke  different  tongues,  they  had  listened 
to  each  other's  reports,  they  had  decided  upon  a  system 
of  correspondence,  but  the  three  days  during  which 
they  had  associated  together  had  revealed  to  them  all 
that  they  were  one  in  faith  and  purpose  in  a  more  real 
sense  than  they  had  imagined.  At  three  in  the  after- 
noon, Rev.  Abel  Stevens,  of  New  York,  rose  to  propose 
an  alliance  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  of 
the  world.  He  commenced  his  address  by  showing  the 
desirability  of  some  bond  of  union  between  the  different 
Associations,  its  influence  as  a  means  of  imparting 
mutual  strength  ;  its  value  as  the  expression  of  an  ines- 
timable truth,  the  sacred  unity  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 
and  its  special  importance  to  America  as  removing  a 
stumbling  block  which  might  otherwise  cause  division 
amongst  the  Associations  on  that  continent.  It  was  in 
the  power  of  the  present  conference  to  accomplish  this 
work,  to  confer  one  of  the  greatest  boons  on  the  Asso- 
ciations, to  place  on  a  permanent  basis  the  work  to 
which  they  were  committed,  and  thus  to  unite  in  one 
confederation    the    various    Associations    which   they 

^  "Fifty  Years  of  Work  Among  Yovtng  Men,"  page  8. 


FORMATION  OF  THE  WORLD'S  ALLIANCE.       175 

represented."  Mr.  Stevens'  basis  of  union  contained 
five  articles :  First,  that  the  Associations  should  be 
managed  by  members  of  evangelical  churches.  Second, 
that  an  order  of  associate  members  should  be  admitted 
when  desired,  who  should  not  vote  or  hold  office.  Third 
(the  article  which  really  prompted  Mr.  Stevens'  reso- 
lution), that  no  difference  of  opinion  on  points  not 
comprehended  in  the  immediate  aim  of  the  Association 
should  be  permitted  to  interrupt  their  harmony."  (The 
danger  to  the  American  Association  through  difference 
of  opinion  in  dealing  with  slavery  is  here  contemplated.) 
The  fourth  article  proposed  a  certificate  of  membership 
to  be  recognized  by  all  Associations,  and  the  fifth,  the 
system  of  correspondence  already  adopted.  Mr.  Stevens' 
address  was  listened  to  with  deep  interest  and  attention. 
As  he  concluded,  M.  Frederick  Monnier,  of  Strassburg, 
a  layman,  who  represented  an  energetic  Association  that 
had  a  numberof  University  students  in  its  membership, 
and  admitted  only  avowed  Christians,  rose  to  address 
the  Convention.  He  said  (p.  20) :  "  It  is  a  great  idea 
which  our  brother  from  America  has  just  placed  before 
us,  and  we  are  all  deeply  moved  by  its  consideration. 
It  is  only  because  we  feel  deeply  that  in  Christ  we  are 
one  and  from  this  arises  the  necessity  we  all  feel  to  give 
expression  to  this  intimate  union  of  faith.  It  is  not  ours 
at  this  moment  to  organize  a  union.  It  already  exists. 
Our  question  is  how  to  manifest  it  in  visible  form.  The 
first  article  in  the  proposition  from  our  American  broth- 
er would  not  be  applicable  in  Europe,  seeing  that  here 
we  have  evangelical  churches,  the  membership  of  which 
does  not  necessarily  imply  any  personal  profession.  In 
preference  to  the  basis  proposed  by  Mr.  Stevens,  I  would 
submit  the  following,  which  has  been  drawn  up  by  me 
in  conjunction  with  a  friend :  '  The  members  of  the 
Conference  feeling  that  they  are  one  in  principle  and  in 
work,  propose  to  their  respective  Associations  that  they 


17<3         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

recognize  with  them  the  unity  thus  subsisting  between 
them,  and  that  whilst  preserving  a  complete  independ- 
ence in  their  particular  organizations,  they  form  one 
united  Association  on  this  general  principle.' 

*  The  Christian  Associations  have  for  their  object  the 
union  of  those  young  men  who,  regarding  Jesus  Christ 
as  their  God  and  Saviour  according  to  the  Scriptures, 
desire  to  be  his  disciples  in  their  doctrine  and  in  their 
life,  and  associate  their  efforts  for  the  extension  of  His 
Kingdom  amongst  young  men.'  " 

Mr.  Shipton  at  once  rose  to  suggest  that  in  place  of 
Mr.  Stevens'  first  article,  that  this  confession  of  faith 
proposed  by  M.  Monnier  be  adopted  as  "  the  basis  of  the 
Alliance,"  and  that  the  succeeding  propositions  be  con- 
sidered separately.  Drs.  Diirselen  and  Traube,  of  Ger- 
many, most  warmly  supported  the  proposed  basis.  Mr. 
Tarlton  and  Mr.  Williams  united  in  approving  the  basis, 
because  "  it  gave  sole  prominence  to  the  one  source  and 
characteristic  of  the  Christian  life — love  to  Christ,  and 
placed  the  Associations  on  the  one  only  foundation, — 
Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  crucified."  Mr.  Stevens  ex- 
pressed his  ready  assent  to  the  proposition.  He  rejoiced 
to  hear  the  accordance  of  other  voices  with  his  own. 
He  said :  "  A  solemn  act  is  this  in  which  we  are  en- 
gaged, and  one  of  which  the  after  consequences  cannot 
be  conceived.  The  spirit  of  God  is  not  withdrawn  from 
His  Church,  nor  from  the  assemblies  of  His  people. 
We  believe  we  are  under  His  guidance  in  the  work  to 
which  we  are  now  called."  "  Before  Mr.  Stevens'  observa- 
tions, the  meeting,  deeply  impressed  with  the  import- 
ance of  the  act  which  was  before  it,  joined  in  prayer 
to  supplicate  the  presence  of  the  Most  High,  and  to  en- 
treat that  He  might  Himself  dictate  their  procedure." 
Then  the  revised  proposition  was  read  as  the  funda- 
mental principle  of  the  Alliance  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian   Associations,   the   meeting   all   standing,  in 


FORMATION  OF  THE  WORLD'S  ALLIANCE.       177 

which  position  it  was  then  solemnly  passed  by  the 
unanimous  vote  of  the  whole  assembly.  The  members 
present  then  knelt  together,  gratefully  to  acknowledge 
the  mercy  of  God  and  to  entreat  His  benediction  on  the 
decision  at  which  they  had  arrived."  Thus  was  adopted 
the  Paris  Basis,  the  "  Apostle's  Creed  "  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  the  one  standard  express- 
ing simply  and  clearly  the  aim  and  the  faith  of  the 
movement. 

The  final  form  in  which  the  Paris  Basis  was  adopted 
is  as  follows : 

"alliance  of  young  men's  christian  associations. 

The  delegates  of  various  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciations of  Europe  and  America,  assembled  in  conference 
at  Paris  the  2 2d  of  August,  1855,  feeling  that  they  are 
one  in  principle  and  in  operation,  recommend  to  their 
respective  societies  to  recognize  with  them  the  unity 
existingamong  their  Associations,  and  whilst  preserving 
a  complete  independence  as  to  their  particular  organi- 
zations and  their  modes  of  action,  to  form  a  confedera- 
tion on  the  following  fundamental  principle,  such  prin- 
ciple to  be  regarded  as  the  basis  of  admission  of  other 
societies  in  the  future. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  seek  to  unite 
those  young  men  who,  regarding  Jesus  Christ  as  their 
God  and  Saviour  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  de- 
sire to  be  his  disciples  in  their  doctrine  and  in  their  life, 
and  to  associate  their  efforts  for  the  extension  of  His 
Kingdom  among  young  men.  This  fundamental  prin- 
ciple being  admitted,  the  Conference  further  proposes  : 

First — That  any  difference  of  opinion  on  other  sub- 
jects, however  important  in  themselves,  but  not  em- 
braced by  the  specific  designs  of  the  Association,  shall 
not  interfere  with  the  harmonious  relations  of  the  con- 


178  }'0  UNG  MEX  'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOC  I  A  TION. 

federated  societies.  Second — That  a  traveling  certifi- 
cate of  membership  be  designed,  by  which  members  of 
the  confederated  societies  shall  be  entitled  to  the  privi- 
leges of  any  other  society  belonging  to  this  confedera- 
tion, and  to  the  personal  attention  of  all  its  members. 
Third — That  the  system  of  correspondence  adopted  b}' 
this  Conference  shall  apply  to  the  societies  of  this  con- 
federation." ^ 

This  basis  was  destined  to  be  adopted  by  all  the  As- 
sociations of  the  world  as  at  once  the  bond  of  union,  the 
inspiration  to  endeavor,  and  the  test  by  which  the  As- 
sociation offered  itself  to  the  judgment  of  mankind. 
The  remaining  articles  proposed  by  Mr.  Stevens  were 
considered  and  adopted,  with  the  exception  of  the  sec- 
ond. This  referred  to  the  admission  of  associate  mem- 
bers, and  was  left  to  the  discretion  of  local  Associations. 
We  have  dwelt  thus  at  length  upon  the  Paris  Conven- 
tion and  quoted  so  freely  from  the  reports  and  speeches 
because  this  Convention  marks  the  close  of  a  complete 
period  of  Association  history — the  launching  of  the 
Association  idea !  The  Paris  Convention,  and  espe- 
cially the  Paris  Basis,  had  a  remarkable  influence  in 
steadying  and  unifying  the  Association  movement. 
Methods  of  accomplishing  its  great  mission  were  still 
to  be  discovered,  financial  resources  and  the  adherence 
of  influential  members  were  yet  to  be  won,  the  magni- 
tude of  the  task  before  it  was  hardly  grasped,  but  the 
mission  and  bond  of  faith  of  the  Association  had  been 
clearly  stated,  never  to  be  recalled,  and  the  movement 
was  presented  as  a  definite  organization  before  the  world ! 
The  following  evening,  Thursday,  August  the  23d,  b)- 
invitation,  the  Conference  visited  the  Evangelical  Alli- 
ance, attended  by  1,200  delegates  from  all  Protestant 
lands. ^     Mr.  Maximillian  Perot,  of  Geneva,  presented 

*  Paris  Report,  1855,  p.  23. 

"  Second  Alliance  Report,  p.  35. 


FORMATION  OF  THE   WORLD'S  ALLIANCE.        179 

a  paper  describing  the  "  Rise,  Progress  and  Operations 
of  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations."  Addresses  by- 
George  H.  Stuart,  of  Philadelphia,  and  others  on  the 
basis  of  union  just  adopted  were  delivered  before  the 
Alliance.  The  Basis,  with  extracts  from  Mr.  Perot's 
paper,  was  published  in  the  Evangelical  Alliance  Re- 
port, and  thus  a  wider  publicity  was  given  to  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

On  Friday  afternoon,  August  24th,  the  delegates  met 
in  the  rooms  of  the  Paris  Association  for  their  farewell 
service.  It  was  an  impressive  hour.  Letters  were  read 
inviting  the  Conference  to  send  delegates  both  to  the 
American  Convention,  soon  to  be  held  at  Cincinnati, 
and  the  German  Conference,  which  had  been  annoiinced 
for  September  the  9th  at  Elberfeld.  Parting  words 
were  uttered  by  delegates  from  each  of  the  countries 
represented.  Mr.  T.  H.  Gladstone  reminded  the  meet- 
ing of  how  different  a  scene  was  passing  in  Paris  on  that 
very  day  nearly  three  hundred  years  before,  and  ob- 
served, "  that  deep  emotions  of  gratitude  should  accom- 
pany the  reflection  that  the  24th  of  August,  1855,  was 
not  marked  by  a  St.  Bartholomew's  massacre,  but  was 
signalized  by  the  binding  together  of  a  holy  union,  and 
the  connecting  of  a  true  fellowship  of  sacred  affection 
between  representatives  of  the  Christian  young  men  of 
France,  Switzerland,  Germany,  Holland,  Britain  and 
America." 

Sec.  25. — Conclusion. 

The  founding  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion was  now  accomplished.  During  the  eleven  years, 
1844  to  1855,  the  spiritual  force  was  generated  which  dur- 
ing the  succeeding  decades  was  to  vitally  influence  the 
character  of  multitudes  of  young  men.  The  rise  of  the 
city  had  brought  the  young  men  of  the  Protestant  world 
under  new  conditions,  with  fierce   temptations.     The 


180  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

evangelistic  zeal  of  the  Protestant  Church  created  a  new 
movement  to  meet  these  conditions.  In  its  effort  to 
win  young  men  to  a  religious  life,  the  Association,  was 
already  seeking  to  provide  intellectual  and  social  oppor- 
tunities. It  was  soon  to  set  before  itself  as  its  aim  the 
salvation  and  the  symmetrical  development  of  the  whole 
man — body,  soul  and  spirit. 

The  first  period  may  be  characterized  as  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  Association  idea — the  extension  of  Christ's 
Kingdom  among  young  men  by  young  men!  In 
widely  separated  sections  of  the  world,  among  groups 
of  earnest  young  men  this  idea  had  taken  a  firm  hold, 
and  in  the  succeeding  periods  was  to  produce  great 
results. 

It  had  already  united  together  over  30,000  young  men, 
organized  in  329  different  societies,  into  a  World's  Alli- 
ance. It  had  influenced  the  lives  and  character  of  a  large 
number  of  young  men  of  the  commercial  class  in  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States,  and  of  the  working 
classes  of  Continental  Europe. 

It  held  up  a  new  ideal  of  union  to  Protestant  denomi- 
nations ;  not  through  creeds,  but  through  service.  It  was 
a  pioneer  in  Christian  work  by  laymen  and  of  organized 
work  by  young  people.  Above  all  this,  it  was  an  evan- 
gelistic force  which  aimed  at  the  regeneration  of  men. 

The  Association  was  a  new  assertion  in  a  practical 
form  of  the  authority  of  the  Scriptures  and  the  deity  of 
Jesus  Christ.  In  Germany,  it  was  a  part  of  a  reaction 
against  Rationalism,  and  of  a  movement  which  was 
building  up  voluntary  agencies  as  suDplementary  to  the 
Established  Church. 

The  Association  had  introduced  a  new  institution 
into  society ;  it  had  rallied  a  new  social  force — Chris- 
tian young  men.  It  had  marshalled  them  into  an  or- 
ganization which  was  now  to  step  forth  and  take  its 
place  among  the  institutions  of  society. 


APPENDICES. 


APPENDIX  I. 


Chronology    of    the    Young    Men's    Christian 

Association  from  the  Birth  of  George 

Williams  to  the  Adoption  of 

the  Paris  Basis. 

1821.     Birth  of  George  Williams,  Ashway  Farmhouse. 
1834.     Bremen    Jiinglings-Vereiii,    founded   by  Pastor 
Mallet. 

1836.  George  Williams  enters  the   Holmes    Business 

House  at  Bridgewater. 
Barmen   Jiinglings-Verein,   founded   by    K.    F. 

Klein. 
George  Williams'  conversion. 

1837.  Prayer    meetings    inaugurated   by  W^illiams    in 

the  Holmes  House,  Bridgewater. 

1838.  Elberfeld  Verein,  founded  by  Anton  Haason. 

1841.  Williams  enters  the  Hitchcock  establishment  in 

London. 

1842.  (London)    Prayer  meetings  established  by  Will- 

iams and  others  in  the  Hitchcock  establish- 
ment. 
1844.     (London)    Prayer   meetings  established   in   the 
Owen  House. 

May  31.  (London)  Meeting  to  consider  organi- 
zation. 

June  6.  {London)  Organization  of  London  Yoimg 
Men's  Christian  Association. 

(Summer)  Fortnightly  meetings  held  at  Ludgate 
Hill  Coifee  House ;  headquarters  established 
at  Radley's  Hotel. 


184  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

1844.  November   8.      First  "Tea  Gathering"  of  the 

lyondon  Association  at  Radley's  Hotel  (Black 
Friars  Bridge). 

1845.  January.     (London)    T.    H.    Tarlton    appointed 

missionary  to  young  men. 

Branch  Association  formed  in  West  End. 

Evangelistic  Bible  class  established  for  Sunday 
afternoons. 

February.  First  public  religious  service  for 
young  men. 

March  6.  Second  "  Tea  Gathering  "  at  Radley's 
Hotel. 

(Summer)  Headquarters  removed  to  Sergeant's 
Inn,  No.  14  Fleet  Street.  Mr.  Bevan  made 
President ;  Mr.  Hitchcock  chosen  Treas- 
urer. 

November  6.  First  Anniversary  gathering  held 
at  Radley's  Hotel. 

Intellectual  agencies  established. 

December  6.     First  popular  lecture  delivered. 

1847.  January  I.     First  New  Year's  Address  issued  by 

London  Society. 
July.     First    Bulletin   published    by    the  West- 
phalian  Vereine. 

1848.  August.     First  Conference  of  Verein  leaders  at 

Elberfeld. 

October.  Westfalischer  Jiinglingsvereins-Bund 
formed  at  Elberfeld. 

(London)  Apartments  opened  in  Gresham 
Street ;  social  agencies  established  by  Lon- 
don Associations,  and  associates  admitted  to 
Association  privileges. 

United   States — Cincinnati    Society   of   Inquiry 
formed. 
1850.     December.     E.  W.  Shipton  appointed  Secretary 
by  the  London  Society. 


APPENDIX  I.  185 

185 1.  The  Earl  of  Shaftesbury  becomes  President  of 

the  London  Association. 

October  30.  Van  Derlip  letter  published  in  Bos- 
ton. 

December  9.     Montreal  Society  formed. 

December  29.  Boston  Association  formed ;  act- 
ive membership  limited  to  members  of  Evan- 
gelical Churches. 

1852.  March  19.     Paris  Association  founded    by   Pas- 

teur Cook. 

May  28.     New  York  Association  founded. 

June  29.     Washington  Association  founded. 

October.  First  proposal  of  an  American  Con- 
federation made  by  Chauncy  Langdon. 

December  i.     Geneva  Association  founded. 

1853.  Sub-district  organizations  formed  in  Westphalia. 

1854.  R.  C.  McCormick  sent  by  the  New  York  Asso- 

ciation as  a  delegate  to  Associations  in  Eu- 
rope. 
June  7.     Buffalo  Convention. 

1855.  January    15.      American     Confederation     com- 

pleted. 
August  20.     Paris  Convention  convened. 
August  22.     Paris  Basis  adopted. 


APPENDIX  II. 


General  and  association  Literature. 


I.  Sociological  and  Religious. 

Uhlhorn. — Die    christliche     Liebesthatigkeit.      Stuttgart.      I.    Bd., 

Alte  Kirche.   1882;    II.  Bd.,  Mittelalter,  1884;    IIL  Bd.,  Seit  der 

Reformation,  1890. 
Nathusius. — Die  Mitarbeit  der  Kirche  an  der  Losung  der  socialen 

Frage.     Leipzig,  1895. 
Roscher. — System  der  Volkswirthschaft.     V.  Bd.,  Die  Armenpflege 

und  Armenpolitik.     2.  Auflage,  339  Seiten.     Stuttgart,  1894. 
Fisher,  Geo.  P.— History  of  the  Christian  Church.    New  York,  1887. 
Hase,   Ch. — History  of   the  Christian   Church.     (English   Edition.) 

New  York,  1886. 
Carroll. — Religious  Forces  in  the  United  States.     New  York,  1894. 
Annals  of  the  Low  Church  Party.     II.  Vol.     London,  1888. 
Overton. — English  Church  in  the  XIX.  Century.     London,  1894. 
Hurst,  Bishop. — History  of  Rationalism.     New  York,  1865. 
Allen,  J.  H. — Modern  Phases  of  Church  Historj-.     Boston. 
Cutt. — Turning  Points  in  Church  History.    (English.)    London,  1889. 
Tulloch.  ^  Religious  Thought  in  Britain  in  XIX.  Century.       New 

York,  1885. 
Church,  R.  W. — The  Oxford  Movement.     London. 
Strong,  Josiah. — Our  Country.     New  York,  1891. 
Strong,  Josiah.— The  New  Era.     New  York,  1893. 
El)',  R.  T. — Social  Aspects  of  Christianity.     New  York,  1889. 
Ely,  R.  T.— The  Labor  Movement  in  America.     New  York,  1886. 
Loomis,  Sam'l  L. — Modern  Cities.     New  York,  1887. 
Booth,   Gen.  W. — In  Darkest  England  and  the  Way  Out.     London, 

1890. 
Barnett,  S.  A.  and  H.  O. — Practical  Socialism.     London,  1888. 
Hodder,  Edwin. — Life  and  Work  of  the  Seventh  Earl  of  Shaftesbury. 

London,  1892. 
Riis,  J.— How  the  Other  Half  Lives.     New  York,  1890. 
"Wolf,  E.  J. — The  Lutherans  in  America.     New  York,  1889. 


APPENDIX  II.  187 

McTjdere,  H.  N. — History  of  Methodism  (in  America).      Nashville, 

Tenn.,  1884. 
McConnell,  G.  D. — History  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church.     New 

York,  1890. 
Dyer,  Henry, — The  Evolution  of  Industry,  London,  1895. 
Spencer,  Herbert.— A  System   of  Synthetic  Philosophy.     Vols.  VI, 

VII.     The  Principles  of  Sociology.     New  York,  1891. 
Erdmann,  J.  E. — A  History  of  Philosophy.     Vol.   III.     New  York, 

1892. 
Kidd,  Benj. — Social  Evolution,  New  York,  1894. 
Drummond,  H.  C. — The  Ascent  of  Man.     London,  1894. 
Fremantle,  W.  H.—The  World  the  Subject  of  Redemption.     New 

York,  1892. 
Traill. — Social  England,  New  York,  1893. 
Toynbee. — Industrial  Revolution.     London. 
Stearne,  Edward,  (ed.) — The  Religious  Condition  of  Christendom. 

A  report  to  the  Oecumenical  Council  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance, 

held  at  Loudon,  1846.     London,  1848. 
Stearne,  E. — The    Religious  Condition  of  Christendom.     II.  Report 

of  Alliance  held  at  London,  1851.     London,  1853. 
Stearne,  E. — The  Religious  Condition  of  Christendom.    III.  Report 

of  the  Alliance  held  at  Paris,  1855.     London,  1857. 
The  Religious   Condition  of  Christendom.     IV.  Report  of  Alliance 

held  at  Berlin,  1857.     London,  1859. 
The  Religious   Condition  of  Christendom.     V.   Report  of  Alliance 

held  at  Geneva,  1861.     London,  1862. 
The  Religious   Condition  of  Christendom.     VI.  Report  of  Alliance 

held  at  Amsterdam,  1867.     London,  186S. 
SchafF,    Phillip. — The   Religious   Condition   of  Christendom.     VII. 

Report  of  Alliance  held  at  New  York,  1873.     New  York,  1874. 

II.   Association  Literature,  1844-1855. 
I.    International  :  English,  French,  German. 

I.  Report   of  World's   Conference  of  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 

ciation held  at  Paris,  1855.     Paris. 

II.  Report   of  World's   Conference    of  Y.  M.  C.  A.  held  at  Geneva, 

1858.     Geneva. 

III.  Report  of  World's  Conference,  London,  1862.     London. 

IV.  "  "  "  Elberfeld,  1865. 

V.  "  "  "  Paris,  1867.     Paris. 

VI.  "  "  "  Amsterdam,  1872.    Amsterdam. 

VII.  "  •         "  "  Hamburg,  1875. 

(Die  innere  Mission  unter  der  mannlichen  Jugend.     Halle.) 


188         YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

VIII.  Report  of  World's  Conference,  Geneva,  1878.     Geneva. 

IX.  "  "  "  London,  1881.     London. 

X.  "  "  "  Berlin,  1884.     Berlin. 

XI.  "  "  "  Stockholm,  1888.    London. 
XIII.           "                "                   "            London,  1894.     London,  1894. 
Fermaud,  Qh.  (ed.) — Fifty  Years'  Work  Among  Young  Men  in  All 

Lands,  1844-1894.     London,  1894. 

2.     German. 

(a.)     Inner  Mission. 

Oldenberg,  F. — ^Johann  Heinrich  Wichern,  sein  Leben  und  Wirken 

Hamburg,  18S2. 
Wichern,  J.  H. — Die  innere  Mission.     Hamburg,  1889. 
Augener. — Die  Herbergen  zur  Heimath  und  die  Vereinshauser  in 

ihrer  socialen  Bedeutung  fiir  die  Gegenwart.     Leipzig,  1869. 
Schafer.  Theo. — Leitfaden  der  inneren  Mission.     Hamburg,  1893. 
Lehmann. — Die  Werke  der  Liebe.     Leipzig,  1893. 
Seyfarth. — Werberufe  fiir  die  Arbeit  der  inneren  Mission.     Leipzig, 

1894. 
Perthes. — Das   Herbergswesen  der  Handwerksgesellen.     2.  Auflage. 

Gotha,  1883. 
Chalmers. — Die  kirchliche  Armenpflege.     Berlin,  1847. 
Hesekiel. — Die  Armenpflege  in  der  Gegenv/art.     Verhandlung  des 

XXII.  Kongresses  fiir  innere  Mission.     Bremen,  1881. 
Phillips. — Schlechte  Wohnungsverhaltnisse,   eine  Quelle    der    Un- 

sittlichkeit.     Berlin. 
Lehmann. — Die  Stadtmission.     Leipzig,  1875. 

(b.)    Jungli7tgs-  Vereine  und  Christliche  Vcreine  junger  Manner. 

Meyeringh. — Ein  Wort  an  und  iiber  Jiinglings-  und  Gesellen-Ver- 

eine.     Hamburg,  1858. 
Meyeringh. — Der  Jugend  Not  und  Hilfe.     Zur  Geschichte  der  Jiing- 

lingsvereine.     Berlin,  1861. 
Korner,  R. — Die  evangelischen  Jiinglingsvereine  ;   ihre  Bedeutung 

und  Winke  zu  ihrer  Begriindung  und  Belebung.     Berlin,  1874. 
Krummacher,  K.— Fragen  und  Antworten  iiber  evangelische  Jiing- 
lingsvereine.    Elberfeld,  1880. 
von  Ranke,  Otto.— Die  evangelischen  Jiinglingsvereine  in  Deutsch- 

land;    ihre  Aufgabe   und   ihre   Bedeutung  fiir  die    Gegenwart. 

Berlin,  1887. 
Hesekiel,  J.— Die  Mission  an  den  Jiinglingen.     Berlin,  1864. 
Komitee  des  Rheinisch-Westfalischen  Jiinglingsbundes. 

Sechs  Tage  im  August  1865.     Elberfeld,   1S66. 


APPENDIX  II.  18'J 

Jordan,    O. — Die   innere   Mission    unter   der    maunlichen    Juj^end 

Halle,  1875.     (134  Seiten.) 
Krummacher,  K. — Die  evangelischen  Jiiuglings-Vereine  in  den  ver- 

schiedenen  Laudern  der  Erde.     Giitersloh,  188 1. 
Tiesmeyer,  L. — Die  Praxis  der  Jiinglings-Vereine.     Bremen,  1S90. 
von  Gertzen,  D. — Die  Jiinglings-Vereine  in  Deutschland.    Heilbronn, 

1886. 
Schwanbeck. — Die  Jiinglings-  und  Jungfrauen-Vereine.    Gotha,  1890. 
Krummacher. — Lebeusbilder  von  Freunden  und  Forderern  der  evan- 
gelischen Jiinglings-Vereine.     Elberfeld,  18S2. 
Krummacher. —  Die   evangelischen    Jiinglings-Vereine.      Elberfeld, 

1894. 
Seidel. — Die  evangelischen   Manner-   und  Jiinglings-Vereine  Sach- 

sens.     Dresden,  1885. 
Mouatlicher    Anzeiger    des    Christlichen  Vereins    junger    Manner. 

Berlin,  1883-1895. 
Jahresbericht   des  christlichen   Vereins  junger  Manner  zu  Berlin, 

1883- I 884. 
Jahrbiicher,  1885-1894. 

3.    British. 

Wilson,  W. — Life  of  William  Kiffin.     London,   1632. 

Woodward,  J. — Account  of  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  Religious 
Societies  in  the  City  of  London.     London,  1698. 

Canipbt.ll,  J. — Memoirs  of  David  Nasmith.     London,  1844. 

Shipton,  E.  W. — The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in  Lon- 
don :  its  Histor}-,  Object  and  Development.     London,  1864. 

Stevenson,  G.  J. — Historical  Records  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  1844-1884.     Loudon,  1884. 

Cox,  F. — Our  Young  Men.     A  Prize  Essay.     London,  1838. 

Annual  Reports  of  the  Central  London  Association,  I.-LI.  London, 
I 844- I 895. 

Reports  I  and  II,  published  in  November,  1S44,  and  March,  1845,  by 
London  Association.    - 

Occasional  papers,  I-VL,  published  by  London  Association,  1853-1856. 

I.    English  Union.     Report  of  the  National  Council.     London,  1884. 

IL  "  "  "  "  "  "  "        1S85. 

in.        "  "  "  "  "  "  "        1S86. 

IV.  "  "  "  "  "  "  "        1887. 

V.  "  "  "  "  "  "  'S9-'9o.     '90. 
Year  Book  for  1891.     London,  1891. 

"    1892.             "  1892. 

"     1893-1894.  "  1894. 

Periodicals  of  the  Central  London  Association,  on  file  at  Exeter 
Hall,  London. 


190  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

Quarterly  Messenger,  1863-1872. 
The  Young  Men's  Magazine,  1875-1879. 
Monthly  Notes,  1879-1885. 
Association  News,  1886-1895. 

4.    American. 

Williams,  H.  L. — The  Lives  andLaborsof  the  American  Evangelists, 
D.  L,.  Moody  and  Ira  D.  Sankey.     London,  1875. 

Daniels,  W.  H. — D.  L.  Moody  and  His  Work.     London,  1875. 

Chambers,  T.  W.— The  Noon  Prayer-Meeting  of  the  North  Dutch 
Church,  Fulton  Street,  New  York.     New  York,  1858. 

Moss,  S. — Annals  of  the  United  States  Christian  Commission.  Phil- 
adelphia,  1868. 

Ninde,  H.  S.;  Bowne,  J.  F.;  Uhl,  E.  (comp.) — Youu,t(  Men's  Christian 
Association  Hand-book.     New  York,  1892. 

Lowry,  Samuel. — Sketch  of  the  Progress  of  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  in  North  America.     Cincinnati,  1868. 

Russell,  Chas.  M. — Address  before  the  Boston  Association  in  1852. 
(On  file  in  Springfield  Association  Library.) 

Ferris,  I. — Address  at  the  organization  of  the  New  York  Associa- 
tion, May  28,  1852.     (Springfield  Library.) 

Lord,  D. — Address  at  opening  of  the  New  York  Association  rooms, 
September  20,  1852.     ( Springfield  Librar}'.) 

Langdon,  W.  C. — The  Early  Story  of  the  Confederation.  New  York, 
18SS. 

I.  Report   of  the   Annual   Convention    of  the   Y.  M.    C.  A.    of  the 

United  States  and  British  Provinces,  held  at  Buffalo,  1854.    Wash- 
ington, 1854. 

II.  Report   of  Convention  held  at  Cincinnati,  1855.    Cincinnati,  1856. 

Montreal,  1856.  Washington,  1856. 
Richmond,  1857.     BuflFalo,  1857. 
Charleston,  1858.  "         1858. 

Troy,  1859.  Richmond,  1859. 
New  Orleans,  i860.  Phila.,  i860. 
New  York,  1861.  N.  Y.  1866. 
Chicago,  '63,  Boston,  '64.  Bos. '64. 
Philadelphia,  1865.  Phila.,  1865. 
Albany,  1866.  New  York,  1866. 
Montreal,   1867.  "  1867. 

Detroit,  1868.  "  1868. 

Portland,  1869.  "  1869. 

Indianapolis,  1870.       "  1870. 

Washington,  1871.       "  1871. 

Lowell,   1872.  "  1S72. 

Poughkeepsie,  1873.    "  1873. 


III. 

i( 

IV. 

i( 

V. 

« 

VI. 

t( 

VII.       " 

" 

Special 

'< 

VIII.  &  IX, 

.  Reports   of  Con. 

X.  Report 

of 

Convention 

XI. 

" 

XIL       '• 

" 

XIII.      " 

i< 

XIV.      " 

<c 

XV. 

« 

XVI.      " 

<l 

XVII.    " 

« 

XVIII.  " 

l( 

APPENDIX  11. 


]J>1 


XIX.  Report  of  Convention,  held  at  Dayton,  1874.       New  York,  1874 

XX.  "  "  "         Richmond,  1875. 

XXI.  "  "  "         Toronto,  1876. 

XXII.  "  "  "         Ivouisville,  1877. 

XXIII.  Year  Book  for  1S78,  Con.  at  Baltimore,  1879. 

XXIV.  Report  of  Conven.  held  at  Cleveland,  x8Si. 


XXV. 

XXVI. 

XXVII. 

XXVIII. 

XXIX. 

XXX. 

XXXI. 


Milvk^aukee,  1883.  " 
Atlanta,  1885. 
San  Francisco,  1887.  " 
Philadelphia,  1889.  " 
Kansas  City,  1891.  " 
Indianapolis,  1893.  " 
Springfield,  1895.        " 

Boston, 


1875 

1876 

1877 

1879 

1881 

1883 

1885 

1887 

1889 

189 

1S9 

189^ 

1853- 


Annual  Reports  of  the  Boston  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  I.-XLIII. 

1895- 
Annual  Reports  of  Nev^^  York  City  Association,  New  York,  1853-1895. 

"  "         "  "  State  Committee,  New  York,  1867-1891. 

"  "         "  Pennsylvania    Committee,    Pittsburg,   1869-1891. 

"  "         "  Ohio  Committee Cleveland,   1867-1895. 

Year  Books  of  the  Associations,  1878-1895,  New  York. 
Reports  of  the  Conferences  held  by  the  Railroad  Associations. 

I.  Cleveland,  1877;  New  York,  1877; 

II.  Altoona,      1879;  "  1879; 

III.  St.  Thomas,  Out.,  1882;  "  1882; 

IV.  Milwaukee,  1886;  "  1886. 

Molt,  J.  R. — Progress  of  the   Intercollegiate  Movement.     Cleveland, 

1892. 
Mott,  J.  R. — Report   of  the   Executive   Committee    of  the  Student 

Volunteer  Movement.     New  York,  1891. 
Moorhead,    M.    W.     (ed.)  — The     Student     Missionary     Enterprise. 

Boston. 
Brown,  I.  E. — Young  Men's  Christian  Association  Buildings.     Chi- 
cago, 1894. 
Book  of  Association  Buildings.     Chicago,  1894. 
Periodicals  issued  by  the  American  International  Committee. 

Quarterly  Reporter,  1856-1858. 

Christian  Journal,  1859-1860. 

Association  Quarterly,  1867-1870. 

Association  Monthly,  1870-1873. 
The  Watchman.  Chicago,  1S74-1890. 
Young  Men's  Era.     Chicago,  1890-1895. 


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